Residents of Gaza border communities are grappling with a renewed sense of insecurity after an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) was stolen from a family home before being identified in footage as being used by Hamas terrorists in the heart of Gaza.
The incident, which occurred on the October 1, the day before Yom Kippur, has sparked anger and frustration among residents, who point to ongoing failures in border security in the area.
Aviv Moaziz, a resident of Moshav Klahim and a reservist in the IDF's 226th Paratroopers Brigade, told Maariv about the incident: "In the middle of the war, I received the difficult news that my father was ill with cancer. I was released from the reserves to help at home."
"On Yom Kippur, I returned from synagogue and discovered that the ATV had been stolen. After a long and arduous search, we received TikTok videos of the stolen tractor with all the identification marks that helped us verify that it was really ours," he added.
“We realized that the ATV was taken into the Gaza Strip, supposedly while our army was 'in Gaza.' It is known that there is a crime and theft problem in the south. Where is the army and where are the police now that we have reached a situation where an ATV can cross over to Gaza? I am shocked by the frightening ease with which the thieves crossed our most sensitive border. Two years have passed, and it feels as if we have learned nothing. Frustrating, sad, and scary. I am already out of words," he added.
'Thieves simply entered the house'
Moaziz's sister, who was at home at the time of the theft, added: "Our ATV was stolen when my family was at synagogue and I was at home with a high fever, sleeping. The thieves simply entered the house, took the keys, and dragged the ATV until they drove it around the area."
"After about two weeks, we found the thief on TikTok and sent the police pictures and videos of him. We did most of the work for them, but the ATV never came back to us. Today, we understood why: our tractor was smuggled into Gaza. It turns out there are still gaps in the fences. During this ceasefire, Hamas is collecting powerful vehicles and tools, and we all know what it is for. We don't even want the ATV back now," he added.
“We just want the army and all of our security services to wake up and not wait for another October 7 to happen to us. An ATV that powerful is no joke. So to the police who didn't do anything and to the IDF who doesn't guard our fences; thank you for letting them prepare for the next security blunder," he continued.
A source familiar with the details told Maariv that the ATVs are often used to steal weapons from IDF bases and ammunition trucks en route to the south, providing a means of quick escape from sparse guard forces at the bases.
In a video recently circulated on TikTok, Hamas terrorists are seen riding a stolen ATV while carrying rifles near a mob of Gazans while a truck tows the vehicle. The footage illustrates the ease with which thieves were able to smuggle the ATV across the border.
Armed terrorists drive stolen ATV past UN vehicle
The footage also shows the ATV being driven past what appear to be United Nations vehicles.
The case raises serious concerns among residents of the surrounding area, who fear that the lessons of October 7 have not yet been internalized.
Residents expressed frustration with the lack of police enforcement regarding crime in the area, and the IDF's failure to prevent vehicles from being smuggled into the hands of terrorist organizations.
The Israel Police released a statement regarding the incident: "Upon receiving the complaint, an investigation was opened. Extensive operations are being carried out to locate the stolen vehicle and return it to its owner. The Israel Police is resolutely against the theft of off-road vehicles, which are often used to commit criminal offenses, including the theft of weapons from the IDF. Allegations arising regarding breaches in the fence that allowed the vehicle to pass into the Gaza Strip should be referred to the security agency responsible for the fence.”