SAEDNEWS: In a controversial move, Israel’s military has removed hundreds of donkeys from Gaza—an act Palestinians decry as outright theft—casting a stark light on the evolving tactics of Netanyahu’s administration.
According to Saed News, Israel’s army has recently orchestrated the transfer of hundreds of donkeys from the Gaza Strip to a farm operated by an Israeli NGO, as revealed by Israel’s Kan network on Monday. The animals—vital to Gazans for transporting essentials amid widespread vehicle destruction and acute fuel shortages—are now reportedly housed on the farm, with a contingent already shipped to France and plans underway to send more to Belgium.
An official of the NGO, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that none of the seized donkeys will be permitted to return to Gaza. “We are working to remove the remaining animals so they cannot be used in Gaza’s reconstruction,” he asserted.
Palestinian residents have condemned the operation as “state‑sanctioned donkey thievery,” emphasizing that donkeys have become indispensable lifelines for conveying food, water, medical supplies, wounded civilians, and even the deceased through Gaza’s war‑scarred streets. In recent months, scenes of donkeys laden with aid have become emblematic of Gazans’ resilience; now, that last refuge is imperiled.
Critics argue this action reveals a strategic pivot in Israel’s security doctrine under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leveraging both military and quasi‑civilian measures to undermine Gazan infrastructure. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the removal of these humble beasts underscores a grim escalation: not only are fuel and vehicles targeted, but the most basic tools of survival are being stripped away. The controversy raises urgent questions about the limits of wartime conduct and the ethics of depriving civilians of indispensable resources.
