The IDF dropped leaflets on Monday urging Palestinians in northern Gaza not to loot aid trucks passing through the area, days after dozens of people were killed when crowds stormed an aid convoy to loot it.
“To help improve humanitarian conditions and access to the northern Gaza Strip, the people of northern Gaza are making way for humanitarian assistance and refraining from looting, theft and mayhem so that food reaches the needy and poor throughout the region,” it said it in the leaflet dropped by the IDF.
The leaflet quoted verse 29 from Surah An-Nisa of the Quran and read: “O you believers! Do not illegally devour each other’s wealth, but act with mutual consent.”
The leaflet also quoted a hadith (a saying or teaching of the Islamic prophet Muhammad recorded by his companions) attributed to Abu Hurayra, a companion of Muhammad, which emphasized: “Everything that belongs to one Muslim belongs to another Muslim forbidden: his blood, his blood.” Property and his honor.
Israeli police are helping to ensure the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza. March 2024 (Source: Israeli Police)
On Thursday, dozens of Palestinians were killed after crowds overran an aid convoy passing through the northern Gaza Strip. Hamas accused Israel of firing and bombing the crowds, while the IDF says the deaths were caused by people trampling each other and that the only instance of shots being fired was a separate incident nearby, which involved a small group that approached Israeli forces and refused to stop despite repeated warnings.
The looting of aid trucks in Gaza has been an ongoing problem in recent months as public order in Gaza collapsed and Hamas lost its control. Aid truck drivers were shot at and attacked, and aid organizations struggled to transport and deliver aid brought into the Gaza Strip due to a lack of security.
Protests attempt to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza
In addition, Israeli protesters again attempted to block the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Monday to prevent humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip. After a brief discussion, police said protesters agreed to leave the site voluntarily, although three protesters who refused to leave were arrested.
“Israeli police have a policy of acceptance and sensitivity towards the demonstrators, but will not allow any violation of public order and will act with zero tolerance towards those who violate the order and disobey the police officers' orders,” the police said.
Police added that Southern District officials, as well as the Border Police and other national police units, assisted the IDF in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian equipment to Gaza, including by ensuring that Israeli civilians did not enter the closed military zones where aid was sought Gaza is brought.
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