As Gaza suffers under an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, armed criminal gangs affiliated with ISIS (Daesh) continue to loot scarce humanitarian aid, allegedly operating under the protection of Israeli forces.

The central figure behind these organized raids is Yasser Abu Shabab, a known criminal and extremist collaborator, leading a violent militia responsible for stealing vital supplies in areas like Rafah and the Karem Abu Salem crossing.

Witnesses and international reports indicate that Abu Shabab’s militia works in full coordination with the Israeli military, falsely claiming to secure aid convoys while extorting, beating, and robbing drivers. Armored Israeli tanks and soldiers reportedly provide cover, allowing these gangs to attack food convoys, demand protection payments, and even open fire on humanitarian missions.

According to The Washington Post, Haaretz, and UN reports, armed gangs have repeatedly raided aid trucks within meters of Israeli military positions, without any intervention from occupation forces. In some cases, Israeli troops have directly attacked Palestinian officials protecting relief efforts, killing six humanitarian workers near Deir Al-Balah.

While ISIS-linked groups loot essential food and medical aid, the Israeli government continues a propaganda campaign to divert attention from its role in the crisis.

Abu Shabab’s criminal record reflects the type of allies Israel tolerates in its war on Gaza. A convicted drug trafficker and known saboteur, Abu Shabab previously burned a fuel tanker to prevent deliveries to bakeries and hospitals.

Since March 2, Gaza has been under a total Israeli blockade, with only a handful of trucks allowed to enter—only to fall prey to these criminal operations. Meanwhile, over 53,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed since Israel’s military assault began in October 2023, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

The international community has condemned Israel’s deliberate starvation tactics, with more than 80 nations holding it responsible for creating a famine crisis. However, the systematic looting of humanitarian aid and coordination with terrorist groups reveals an even darker reality—the weaponization of hunger as a tool of collective oppression.

IN THIS ARTICLE