Looting of aid reaching Gaza has been made easier by Israel's army targeting the local police which would otherwise be able to prevent it, a group of non-governmental organisations said Friday.

“Looting is an ongoing issue,” they said, calling the theft of goods “a consequence of Israel’s targeting of the remaining police forces in Gaza” as well as of scarcity of essential goods, lack of routes and the closure of most crossing points which had resulted in “desperation of the population amid those dire conditions”.

Based on “media reports”, the NGOs accused Israel’s military of "failing to prevent aid trucks from being looted and armed gangs from extorting aid organisations for protection money". In “some cases”, the report said, “the remaining members of local police forces tried to take action against the looters, but were attacked by Israeli troops”.

Incidents had taken place “close by or in full view of Israeli forces without them intervening, even when truck drivers asked for assistance”, it said.