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Israeli media reported that the army has transferred hundreds of donkeys from Gaza into the country, claiming the move was aimed at “rescuing them from psychological and physical trauma”—a “scene that highlights the grim contradictions of life in the besieged enclave.”
However, as the animals were known as a way of transportation for Gazans during the genocide, Israeli organizations' actions were deemed as a theft by locals.
Israeli broadcaster Kan reported on Monday that the army transferred the donkeys to a farm run by an Israeli organization called ”Starting Over Sanctuary,” which specializes in the care of donkeys, located in Moshav Herut south of Tel Aviv, and is run by activist Sharon Cohen.
It presents the animals as victims of “psychological trauma” and claims they require special care, without any contact with their original owners or documentation proving the legality of the transfer.
The head of the organization said that “We will not allow the donkeys to return to Gaza, and we will work to remove the remaining ones to prevent them from being used in reconstruction efforts.” The channel reported that the organization later transferred some of the donkeys, citing the availability of large open spaces where the animals can live freely.
On May 18, 2025, the first group of 58 donkeys was flown from Ben Gurion Airport to Liège Airport in Belgium before being transferred to animal shelters in France and Belgium.
The operation was coordinated with the organization Network for Animals, run by Gloria Davies and Shannon Edwards, and carried out by the Israeli company Orien Cargo.
Among the shelters, La Taniere—Zoo Refuge near the French city of Chartres stood out, welcoming the donkeys with fanfare and portraying them as symbols of “compassion and civility.”
Each donkey was given a “story of survival from hell,” with no mention of its Palestinian origin or rightful owner.
The move, widely described as a "blatant theft," sparked a wave of anger and ridicule on social media.
Social media users reacted sharply, accusing Israel of targeting all living beings in Gaza rather than genuinely trying to save the donkeys. They argued that if there is a real desire to provide rescue, it should start by ending the ongoing war of annihilation and starvation in Gaza, rather than by relocating donkeys to France and Belgium.
Activists argued that the occupation doesn’t just seize land and rights—it extends its reach to all aspects of life, including the basic means of transportation that residents rely on to cope with the effects of siege and destruction.
The donkeys have been a lifeline for residents, not only transporting displaced families and their belongings but also the injured and the dead.
Activists pointed out that just last month, Gaza’s people held a ceremony honoring these animals in recognition of their vital role.
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