Human Rights group reports Mass Looting in Gaza

An international human rights group, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, has accused Israeli forces of not only killing thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip but also engaging in systematic looting of Palestinians’ homes, stealing their property. The Geneva-based organization released a report detailing Israeli soldiers’ actions, which include intentional destruction of property, theft of personal belongings, and looting and burning of homes, as part of what they claim is a systematic strategy based on collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

According to the report, Israeli soldiers have been directly involved in the intentional theft of assets and money from Palestinian civilians, taking items such as laptop computers, gold, and large sums of cash. Preliminary estimates suggest that the Israeli army may have looted possessions worth tens of millions of dollars, in addition to stealing personal belongings from Palestinian civilians.

Testimonies from aggrieved Palestinians, as cited by the rights group, tell stories of Israeli troops raiding houses, abducting individuals, and stealing gold and cash. Thabet Salim, one of the Palestinians mentioned in the report, stated that Israeli forces raided his house in Gaza City, abducted him and his two sons, and stole all the gold and cash available in his residence. Another Palestinian woman, Umm Muhammad Gharbiyya, reported that Israeli forces forcibly took away her gold and jewelry after violently breaking into her family’s house.

Videos circulating on social media were cited as evidence, showing Israeli forces taking Palestinians’ belongings, looting their properties, and attempting to sell stolen possessions.

Euro-Med Monitor concluded its report by calling for “a comprehensive and impartial international investigation” into the alleged Israeli violations against the residents of the Gaza Strip and their property. The organization urged the international community to take urgent measures to ensure that Israel is held legally accountable for its actions.