Gaza, Nov 19
Twenty people were killed in a security operation east of Rafah, southern Gaza, which was supported by Hamas and targeted gangs accused of looting aid trucks entering Gaza, according to Al-Aqsa TV channel of Hamas.
Sources in the local authorities told Al-Aqsa TV that the operation, in cooperation with tribal committees, marks the beginning of a broader security campaign targeting those involved in stealing aid trucks, news agency reported.
The campaign "does not target specific tribes but aims to eradicate the phenomenon of truck thefts that have significantly impacted the community and caused famine-like conditions in southern Gaza," the sources said.
Local sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that they heard heavy gunfire and explosions during the operation, which lasted for several hours in border areas east of Rafah.
The operation came two days after the "gangs" seized dozens of aid trucks, particularly those carrying flour, causing severe shortages and widespread public discontent, they told.