Unidentified groups looting north Gaza supply warehouses, shops

Armed groups and others have looted warehouses of supplies in northern Gaza as desperation spikes after more than two months of Israel’s blockade of the territory, locals and aid workers say, as Israel’s latest airstrikes continued into Saturday, killing over a dozen people.

Messages circulated among security officials for aid groups and seen by The Associated Press, and witnesses and organizations in Gaza, say looting has occurred since Wednesday by unidentified people, armed and unarmed. They’ve broken into warehouses held by the UN and aid groups as well as commercial warehouses, bakeries, stores, and shops, they say.

Israel has blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since the latest ceasefire with Hamas in March ended.

Israel has said the blockade and its renewed military campaign are intended to pressure Hamas to release the remaining 59 hostages it still holds, and to disarm the Palestinian terror group.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.