Inside Gaza's criminal gang backed by Israel
In a segment released on Tuesday, the UK's Channel 4 News reported on the rise of the Israel-backed militia in Gaza led by former drug trafficker Yasser Abu Shabab.
Thought to number around 300 men, the militia grew infamous in Gaza over the past year as residents accused the gang of looting aid trucks entering the strip in areas under Israel's military control.
For months, many questioned how Israeli forces could let the gang loot aid in areas under its control without intervening. Since then, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu admitted his government was supporting the gang.
Abu Shabab has now been placed in charge of aid distribution at sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, where several shootings of Palestinians seeking aid have taken place over recent weeks.
Activists head to Gaza in protest of aid blockade • FRANCE 24 English
Following the detention and deportations of activists sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, activists left Tunisia in a multi-vehicle convoy on Tuesday destined for Gaza to protest Israel's aid blockade on the enclave. Although the convoy is not carrying aid, the symbolic gesture represents mounting international pressure on Israel to lift its siege on Gaza, which threatens to cause mass starvation in the enclave.
UNICEF shares harrowing image of malnourished 5-year-old in Gaza
The UN’s child rights agency (UNICEF) has shared the story of Osama, 5, who is severely malnourished amid Israel’s near-total blockade on the enclave.
“He now weighs only 5 kgs, dangerously below the healthy weight for his age,” UNICEF said in a post on X. “Osama is being treated at Nasser Hospital but his full recovery depends on sufficient nutrition and follow-up care – both of which are at risk.”
The UN said earlier this month that more than 2,700 Palestinian children were suffering from acute malnutrition in Gaza.
The entire population faces the threat of starvation.
