CREDENTIALS. "The real war will begin after the war" : In Gaza, insecurity grows under the bombs, while the Palestinians are denied everything Franceinfo

This is a first in Gaza society, which is normally extremely supportive. The pressure of the blockade imposed by Israel and the impact of the bombings are so great that insecurity is growing in the Palestinian enclave.

Published on November 26, 2023 06:13

Reading time: 2 minutes

Palestinians use the ceasefire to monitor the damage in Gaza City. (AFP)

As Nabil sets off for the Deir el-Balah market that morning, he hears gunshots. “People were running,” he says. They are shot at by plainclothes Palestinians who come to prevent the resale of products stolen from United Nations stockpiles.

In addition to the bombings in Gaza, the refugees streaming into the south of the enclave are also victims of insecurity. The residents lack everything, thefts are increasing, and there is no longer a real security service. “I think it’s plainclothes police officers who are shooting. They say they will stop,” Nabil adds.

“This war is different”

Insecurity in Gaza is now clearly part of the situation. “We are used to bombing, I have been through six wars, this is the seventh. But this war is different,” Nabil adds. A novelty in this area, where solidarity has always prevailed even in the worst of times.

“The situation is more than catastrophic. The law of the strongest applies.”

Nabil, resident of Gaza

at franceinfo

“The real war will begin after the war,” warns Nabil. Even buying a bag of flour has become risky. “You have to have a safe place to put it because people try to stop cars to get bags of flour if there are any,” Khaled says.

“There will be no more security” after the war

It has to be said that the large bag of flour costs 60 euros. Due to the lack of gas in the bakeries, in some places there is no longer even bread. All prices have also increased. “We can’t find salt, sugar is more expensive than it used to be,” says Khaled. “Wood is only used for food and to heat water for washing,” he says. Khaled calculates: The price of wood has increased fivefold since the beginning of October.

Even houses are being looted “by thieves, Palestinians like us,” complains Asma from the city of Khan Younes in the south of Gaza. “They stole my sister’s house, they took the TV, things they can resell,” says Asma. She no longer sees any police officers around her, nor any administration. A few weeks ago it was mainly led by Hamas. “When the war ends, there will be no more police, no more security,” complains Asma, who sums up the dilemma in Gaza: “On the one hand it is war, on the other side there are thieves. In the end it’s always like this. People who foot the bill for these wars.