Masked men in Gaza enforce prices in street markets
In Gaza's Rafah, armed and masked vigilantes have begun patrols to prevent price gouging among traders, offering a form of law enforcement in an area housing over a million displaced Palestinians due to the ongoing conflict with Israel.
The group's emergence comes nearly five months into the war, with commercial imports halted since October 7 and only limited humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
With most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents now living in temporary shelters near the Egypt border, social media photos reveal these enforcers wearing ski masks and, in some instances, brandishing assault rifles or sticks.
They aim to monitor market prices and penalize those exploiting the dire situation, as traditional police forces have been incapacitated by Israeli strikes.
This vigilante action represents a grassroots attempt to maintain order amid the chaos, as recounted by a group member who insists on anonymity due to fear of reprisal.
The ongoing conflict, initiated by a Hamas incursion into Israel, has led to significant casualties on both sides and has drastically altered everyday life in Gaza.
