Chaos in the Gaza Strip: G20 demand more help from Israel – looting in Gaza

In view of the enormous suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip, the G20 states are calling on Israel to urgently expand humanitarian aid and strengthen the protection of the civilian population. In their joint final statement, the “Group of 20” leading economic powers in Rio de Janeiro expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in Lebanon. According to the United Nations Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA), more than 100 trucks were looted in one of the largest raids on aid supplies to the Gaza Strip in recent months. Meanwhile, US mediator Amos Hochstein is expected in the Lebanese capital Beirut to hold talks on a possible ceasefire between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and Israel.

Helpers warn of famine

After more than a year of war, the humanitarian situation in the densely populated and sealed-off Gaza Strip is catastrophic. Aid organizations accuse Israel of not allowing enough aid deliveries into the coastal strip. There is a risk of famine, especially in the north of the area.

Israel rejects this and, for its part, accuses international aid organizations of not effectively distributing aid supplies in the Gaza Strip. Israel is also criticized internationally because of the high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian figures, more than 43,800 people have died and more than 100,000 have been injured since the war began. However, the information does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as a protective shield.

Eyewitnesses: Hamas takes action against looters

The head of the United Nations Palestinian Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said in Geneva that in the southern coastal town of Chan Yunis, distressed people tried in desperation to storm an empty UNRWA warehouse because they thought the aid was there arrived there. But there was nothing left to distribute.

Apparently in response to the looting of the convoy on Saturday, gunmen from the Islamist Hamas took massive action against looters, according to eyewitness reports. There were many dead and injured in the action around the towns of Chan Yunis and Rafah in the south of the coastal strip, a reporter from the German Press Agency reported after telephone contact with local informants. The Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry also confirmed the action. The information could not initially be independently verified.

The Israeli army, which has been fighting against Hamas since the Hamas massacre with 1,200 deaths in Israel in October 2023 and is on site with strong units in the south of the coastal strip, did not intervene. Residents were surprised to see that armed Hamas fighters on motorcycles were able to ride through the streets unmolested by the Israeli army and take action against looters and thieves.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war aim is to destroy Hamas. The terrorist organization is trying to maintain its power over the Gaza Strip despite military pressure from Israel. There are also around 100 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, many of whom are no longer alive.

Israel: Lebanese Hezbollah is also hiding behind civilians

Israel also accuses Hezbollah of using civilians as protective shields for deliberately setting up its command centers, weapons depots and, in some cases, rocket launching pads in residential areas. The air force carried out renewed attacks on the center of Beirut. The target was an apartment in the Zakak al-Balat district, as a reporter from the German Press Agency reported on site, citing eyewitness reports and security circles.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, five people were killed and 24 others were injured in the attack. Israeli air strikes were again reported from other parts of the country. Israeli ground troops also continued to take action against the Hezbollah militia in the south of the country.

Dead and injured in Israel by Hezbollah rockets

Hezbollah also continued to fire rockets at Israel. A woman was killed when one of their rockets hit the northern Israeli town of Shefaram. According to the rescue service, ten other people were slightly injured in the town, which is predominantly inhabited by Arab Israelis. Earlier in the day, two people were injured by rockets elsewhere in the north of the country.

In the evening, the sirens wailed in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv for the first time in almost two weeks. According to the army, a rocket was approaching from Lebanon and was shot down. Debris injured five people and caused a fire in the town of Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv. In total, more than 100 rockets were fired at Israel from Lebanon over the course of the day.

Hezbollah confirmed the attacks. It has been shelling Israel for more than a year – according to its own statements, in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Around 60,000 people in northern Israel have left their homes because of the shelling. Since the start of the war, 77 people have been killed and more than 650 injured there. More than 3,000 people died in Lebanon as a result of Israel’s counterattacks.

US mediator expected in Beirut

Meanwhile, Hezbollah indicates a willingness to negotiate with Israel. According to government circles in Lebanon, the militia sees a draft for a ceasefire with Israel put forward by the USA as a basis for further negotiations. But there is still a need for discussion. US mediator Hochstein is expected in Beirut in the middle of the week.

According to media reports, Israel and Hezbollah will initially suspend their attacks for 60 days. The Israeli army is to leave Lebanon and Lebanese army soldiers are to be stationed at the border. Israel and Lebanon are also scheduled to hold negotiations on the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 after 60 days. After the previous war in 2006, their goal was to end the fighting in the Lebanese-Israeli border area.