Quick Read
- US CENTCOM released drone footage allegedly showing Hamas operatives looting an aid truck in southern Gaza.
- The looting was detected by the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center overseeing humanitarian convoys.
- Aid theft has declined since the ceasefire, but incidents persist, raising concerns about aid security.
- Israel and Hamas exchanged remains, but recent bodies returned by Hamas were not hostages.
- International debate continues on who should secure Gaza post-ceasefire, with a UN-mandated force proposed.
US Drone Footage Raises Questions on Humanitarian Aid Security in Gaza
On October 31, 2025, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released drone footage that allegedly captures suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck in southern Gaza. The incident, observed by the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) based in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, has ignited renewed debate over the distribution and security of humanitarian aid in the war-torn enclave.
According to CENTCOM, the drone—an American MQ-9 deployed to monitor the fragile ceasefire—spotted the looting as a convoy carrying aid from international partners made its way toward northern Khan Younis. The video appears to show armed men attacking the driver and commandeering both the truck and its cargo. The fate of the driver remains unknown.
This episode coincided with the visit of General Dan Caine, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Israel. Discussions with Israeli officials focused on both military coordination and humanitarian relief, underscoring the increasingly complex web of international involvement in Gaza’s crisis.
Humanitarian Aid Under Pressure: A Pattern of Seizures
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded sharply to the footage, sharing it on social media and accusing Hamas of consistently intercepting humanitarian supplies intended for Gaza’s civilians. “Hamas continues to deprive the people of Gaza of the humanitarian aid they desperately need. This theft undermines international efforts in support of President Trump’s 20 Point Plan to deliver critical assistance to innocent civilians,” Rubio stated.
Similar allegations have come from Israel, which has long charged that Hamas diverts supplies from aid deliveries managed by the UN and other organizations. According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, looting of aid convoys has markedly decreased since the ceasefire began on October 10, with only five percent of shipments intercepted between October 10 and October 28—down from more than 80 percent in the preceding months.
Yet, the UN acknowledges that nearly nine out of ten aid trucks entering Gaza earlier in 2025 were looted before reaching their intended recipients, whether by desperate civilians or armed groups. This staggering figure highlights the persistent obstacles facing humanitarian agencies and the urgent need for more robust safeguards.
Ceasefire Strains: Remains Exchange and Security Challenges
Meanwhile, the ceasefire brokered by the US faces ongoing strain. In a recent development, Hamas handed over the remains of three individuals to the Red Cross in Gaza, but Israeli authorities confirmed these were not hostages. The handover followed Israel’s return of thirty Palestinian bodies to Gaza—completing an exchange after militants had previously released the remains of two hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the identity of the three returned bodies remains unclear. Hamas, for its part, said it offered samples of unidentified bodies for DNA analysis, but Israel insisted on receiving the remains directly. Gaza health officials, hampered by a lack of DNA kits, have struggled to identify many of the deceased.
Since the ceasefire, Palestinian militants have released the remains of seventeen hostages, with eleven still held in Gaza. Israel has been returning fifteen Palestinian bodies for each Israeli hostage’s remains. Out of the 225 Palestinian bodies returned since October, only seventy-five have been identified by families, underscoring the chaos and devastation wrought by months of conflict.
International Stabilization: Who Will Secure Gaza?
As the humanitarian situation grows more dire, regional and international actors debate who should take responsibility for security in Gaza. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, speaking at the Manama Dialogue security summit, warned that Israel’s continued military presence in Gaza jeopardizes the ceasefire. Safadi advocated for a Palestinian police force, supported by an international stabilization force under a UN Security Council mandate.
“Israel cannot stay in 53% of Gaza and then expect security to be achieved,” Safadi cautioned, echoing concerns that only a comprehensive international effort can restore stability.
The US-backed 20-point peace plan proposes a temporary international force—comprising Arab and other partners—to work with Egypt and Jordan in securing Gaza’s borders and enforcing the truce. While multiple nations have expressed interest, including Indonesia, none have committed troops pending a clear UN mandate. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said thousands of troops could be offered but stressed the need for international legitimacy and guarantees of safety for both Palestinians and Israelis.
The Human Cost: War’s Toll and the Road Ahead
The war’s staggering human toll continues to mount. The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 618, attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages, has led to an Israeli military offensive claiming more than 68,600 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. These figures, while disputed by Israel, are widely considered reliable by independent observers.
Amid the ongoing devastation, both Israeli and Palestinian families rally for the return of loved ones. In Tel Aviv, Yael Adar, mother of a slain hostage, accused Hamas of “mocking” Israeli families. In Jerusalem, friend of another victim, Moran Harari, called for restraint, saying, “This cursed war has taken so many lives of dear people on both sides of the fence. This time, we must not fall into it again.”
The exchange of remains, delays in aid delivery, and recurring violence all point to a ceasefire under immense pressure—a fragile peace threatened by unresolved questions of governance, security, and humanitarian access.
Looking Forward: Governance, Aid, and the Path to Peace
As international actors weigh their roles, local realities in Gaza remain fraught. The looting of aid trucks—caught on drone camera—serves as a stark reminder of the breakdown of order and the desperation driving many to seize whatever resources they can. The challenge now is not only to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, but also to restore trust in the process and lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace.
Questions linger: Can a coordinated international force restore security without becoming entangled in the region’s political complexities? Will Hamas agree to disarmament or cede authority over aid distribution? And, crucially, can the suffering of civilians be alleviated in the midst of competing interests and fragile agreements?
The latest drone footage brings into sharp focus both the breakdown in humanitarian delivery and the persistent mistrust between parties. While international coordination offers hope for improved aid distribution, the underlying issues of governance and security remain unresolved. The fate of Gaza’s civilians—and the prospects for lasting peace—will depend on whether leaders can move beyond accusation and retaliation toward genuine cooperation and accountability.