Gaza ministry says over 20 killed in operation targeting aid looters

Gaza's Hamas-run Interior Ministry said on Nov 18 at least 20 people were killed in an operation targeting "gangs" that looted trucks bringing aid into the war-torn territory threatened with famine.

"More than 20 members of gangs involved in stealing aid trucks were killed in a security operation carried out by security forces in cooperation with tribal committees," the ministry said.

"Today's security operation will not be the last," it said, adding that "the phenomenon of truck thefts has severely impacted society and led to signs of famine in southern Gaza".

The statement called the operation "the beginning of a broad security campaign that has been long planned and will expand to include everyone involved in the theft of aid trucks".