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Fox News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Hamas losing iron grip on Gaza as US-backed group gets aid to Palestinians in need
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been a central focus of international debate since Hamas' war with Israel began in 2023. Longstanding aid organizations and new ones have rushed to provide Palestinians with critical support. But one group in particular has received backlash for trying to deliver food to the Strip, the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). "The big difference between GHF and other aid organizations such as the U.N., for example, is that effectively GHF undercutting Hamas or keeping Hamas out of the loop here when it comes to aid," Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst and editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Long War Journal, told Fox News Digital. Despite the criticism and accusations of violence against Palestinians seeking aid at its distribution sites, GHF has delivered over 76 million meals since its operation began in late May. Truzman said that Hamas has taken notice — and is reacting — to the GHF's success, as the terror organization has been unable to control the aid coming from them. Truzman believes Hamas' reaction to the GHF is telling and could signal that the group is losing access to a key tool in its arsenal for maintaining control in Gaza. He told Fox News Digital that Hamas uses "a social welfare program" to keep its grip on the population. "So, for instance, charities that are controlled by Hamas, mosques that are controlled by Hamas, schools that are controlled Hamas and aid that is controlled by Hamas. Now they use it to either feed the community — Palestinians — and by doing that they gain this leverage over Palestinians," Truzman said. "Palestinian civilians need this aid to obviously survive and they count on Hamas to do it. So, this is how Hamas could control the population." Hamas' diversion of aid was something that concerned the U.S. when it began backing GHF as a way to provide Palestinians with what they need without letting terrorists get ahold of it. In June, when the U.S. announced $30 million in funding for the GHF, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott touted the organization's work distributing aid "while preventing Hamas looting." "If GHF wasn't around right now, I think we'd be back to the same old distribution where Hamas would control it, all right, or other Palestinian terrorist groups. I think that's a problem that nobody's really been able to figure out just yet," Truzman told Fox News Digital. The United Nations has been particularly critical of the GHF, something that Truzman attributes more to the U.N.'s "very anti-Israel stance" and institutional bias than officials' desire to stick with methods used in the past. "I think the UN is very unhappy in the situation that they are not in control anymore, at least, of distributing aid in the Gaza Strip," Truzman said. On Tuesday, GHF Executive Director Rev. Johnnie Moore said that his organization "helped get the U.N. reauthorized when Israel reopened access to Gaza." Fox News Digital reached out to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) about Moore's claim, but did not get a clear confirmation or denial. "We welcome when anyone with influence who has witnessed the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza for more than 21 months calls on the Israeli authorities to swiftly unlock access and enable the safe, sustained delivery of humanitarian aid," OCHA Spokesperson Eri Kaneko told Fox News Digital. "The lives of the people of Gaza are at stake. Ending their suffering must be the shared priority and ultimate goal for us all to work towards with urgency and determination."
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
How Does Israel Defend Against Iran's Missiles?
Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel on Friday, less than a day after Israel's military carried out a mass attack targeting Tehran's nuclear program and top commanders. With billions of dollars worth of sophisticated and multilayered aerial defenses, Israel has long been prepared for a full-scale assault by Iranian missiles and drones. Those layers of protection are now being put to the test, with Israeli authorities confirming that missiles hit multiple sites. In previous exchanges between the two countries, Iran mostly targeted Israeli military bases. But the scope of Israel's assault, which devastated Iran's military chain of command, could prompt a much wider Iranian counterstrike. 'One of the most effective tactics to inflict maximum damage on the Israeli home front would be to overwhelm its air defense systems,' said Joe Truzman, a senior analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Long War Journal. He said Israel will have 'only a brief window to detect, assess, and respond to this looming threat.' Here's what to know about Israel's defenses against Iranian attack. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hamas faces 'legitimacy crisis' as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers
The terrorist group known as Hamas has long plagued the Gaza Strip but is facing a point of crisis as its influence and support, which was already far from sweeping, continues to drop amid internal pressure to end the war and return the hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. "Hamas's current posture reveals a critical inflection point in its grip over the Gaza Strip," Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst and editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies "Long War Journal" and an expert on Palestinian terrorist groups, told Fox News Digital. "By opposing the new aid distribution mechanism, one that is coordinated by the U.S. and Israel, Hamas is signaling that its primary concern is not the well-being of Palestinians but the preservation of its authority." Despite the monthslong aid blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israel and the images of starvation, Hamas this week threatened any Palestinian civilians who accept food aid for their families and warned they "will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures." Hamas Terror Group Reportedly Buckling Under Financial Strain Amid Israeli Military Gains And Growing Unrest Despite the threats, Palestinians have flooded the aid sites erected by the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reportedly resulting in scenes of chaos as desperate civilians overran one distribution location on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its "troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound," adding, "Control over the situation was established … and the safety of IDF troops was not compromised." The U.N. Human Rights Office claimed some 47 people were injured during the gunfire, while the Hamas-run health ministry said one person was killed and 48 others were wounded, reported the Bbc, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify the casualty count. Read On The Fox News App On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid. "As we have repeatedly cautioned, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza," the GHF said in a statement. "Reports to the contrary originated from Hamas and are inaccurate." Truzman explained that it is in Hamas interest to portray the aid delivery as negatively as possible, and to use the chaos to promote its return to power. "Hamas had significant influence over aid flows, which it used not only for governance but also as leverage to reinforce loyalty, reward patronage networks, and maintain internal control," the expert explained. "The erosion of this influence poses both a symbolic and operational threat to the group. "With Hamas becoming sidelined from the aid process, the group is facing a legitimacy crisis," Truzman added. Despite the chaotic scenes that arose as aid finally returned to Gaza, the GHF said Tuesday that it had distributed about 8,000 food boxes totaling 462,000 meals so far. On Wednesday, eight trucks worth of aid were delivered, which equates to some 378,262 meals. "Operations will continue to scale up tomorrow," the GHF confirmed. One Gazan told the Center for Peace Communications that the failure of Hamas, which serves as the local government, to secure affordable and accessible food has driven civilians to the American distribution site. "In fact, they were good to us," he said. "They were handing out rations cards and started to tell us to take them. Unlike those ruling Gaza who don't do anything for us. "We, as a people, are telling you that we need anyone, anyone who can provide us with these necessities," he added. "Otherwise, no one would be going to the American distribution point. If Hamas is listening to us, get off the people's backs. "The people are dying," the man added. Israeli Ambassador Slams Un's 'Mafia-like' Tactics Against Us-backed Gaza Foundation In recent months, civilian populations have not only been turning to external actors for relief where possible, they have increasingly called on Hamas to return the hostages, stop the war and even leave the Gaza Strip. "This shift undermines Hamas's image as the authority in Gaza and exposes its weakened state," Truzman said. "However, any assumption that Hamas might yield under these conditions must be tempered by the nature of its surviving leadership," he warned. "Those who remain at the helm are among the most ideologically entrenched and militarily committed members of the organization." Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 after it defeated its rival party, Fatah, which is part of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Despite the plurality vote nearly two decades ago, Hamas has struggled to maintain control and stability for years and its support – even in the lead up to the 2023 attacks that prompted the largest-ever war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – was reportedly lacking and its leadership growing increasingly unpopular. Israel Blocks Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza After Hamas Rejects Ceasefire Extension Proposal Israel and Egypt have limited the flow of goods into the Gaza Strip for the last two decades, and border crossing restrictions have been heavily enforced since the 1980s. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2025. However, according to a report by the Wilson Center, only a fraction of the population prior to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks blamed food shortages on external factors like sanctions, while a third blamed the Hamas-run government for mismanagement, while another quarter of the population blamed inflation. The report also found that nearly half of Palestinian civilians said they had no trust in Hamas' leadership, while roughly a third of the population threw their support behind the group. Support is believed to have dropped in the nearly 600 days that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, and the subsequent devastation brought to the Gaza Strip. "If the new aid mechanism succeeds in improving living conditions for Palestinians, surpassing what Hamas has been able to provide during wartime, it is unlikely to reverse the growing public dissatisfaction with the group," Truzman told Fox News Digital. "Even an imperfect but externally managed aid system may further expose Hamas's governance failures, particularly its prioritization of power retention over the welfare of the population. "While tangible improvements will take time to materialize, the mere perception that life can improve without Hamas may be enough to shift public attitudes further against the group," he article source: Hamas faces 'legitimacy crisis' as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers
Fox News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Hamas faces 'legitimacy crisis' as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers
The terrorist group known as Hamas has long plagued the Gaza Strip but is facing a point of crisis as its influence and support, which was already far from sweeping, continues to drop amid internal pressure to end the war and return the hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. "Hamas's current posture reveals a critical inflection point in its grip over the Gaza Strip," Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst and editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies "Long War Journal" and an expert on Palestinian terrorist groups, told Fox News Digital. "By opposing the new aid distribution mechanism, one that is coordinated by the U.S. and Israel, Hamas is signaling that its primary concern is not the well-being of Palestinians but the preservation of its authority." Despite the monthslong aid blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israel and the images of starvation, Hamas this week threatened any Palestinian civilians who accept food aid for their families and warned they "will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures." Despite the threats, Palestinians have flooded the aid sites erected by the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reportedly resulting in scenes of chaos as desperate civilians overran one distribution location on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its "troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound," adding, "Control over the situation was established … and the safety of IDF troops was not compromised." The U.N. Human Rights Office claimed some 47 people were injured during the gunfire, while the Hamas-run health ministry said one person was killed and 48 others were wounded, reported the BBC, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify the casualty count. On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid. "As we have repeatedly cautioned, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza," the GHF said in a statement. "Reports to the contrary originated from Hamas and are inaccurate." Truzman explained that it is in Hamas interest to portray the aid delivery as negatively as possible, and to use the chaos to promote its return to power. "Hamas had significant influence over aid flows, which it used not only for governance but also as leverage to reinforce loyalty, reward patronage networks, and maintain internal control," the expert explained. "The erosion of this influence poses both a symbolic and operational threat to the group. "With Hamas becoming sidelined from the aid process, the group is facing a legitimacy crisis," Truzman added. Despite the chaotic scenes that arose as aid finally returned to Gaza, the GHF said Tuesday that it had distributed about 8,000 food boxes totaling 462,000 meals so far. On Wednesday, eight trucks worth of aid were delivered, which equates to some 378,262 meals. "Operations will continue to scale up tomorrow," the GHF confirmed. One Gazan told the Center for Peace Communications that the failure of Hamas, which serves as the local government, to secure affordable and accessible food has driven civilians to the American distribution site. "In fact, they were good to us," he said. "They were handing out rations cards and started to tell us to take them. Unlike those ruling Gaza who don't do anything for us. "We, as a people, are telling you that we need anyone, anyone who can provide us with these necessities," he added. "Otherwise, no one would be going to the American distribution point. If Hamas is listening to us, get off the people's backs. "The people are dying," the man added. In recent months, civilian populations have not only been turning to external actors for relief where possible, they have increasingly called on Hamas to return the hostages, stop the war and even leave the Gaza Strip. "This shift undermines Hamas's image as the authority in Gaza and exposes its weakened state," Truzman said. "However, any assumption that Hamas might yield under these conditions must be tempered by the nature of its surviving leadership," he warned. "Those who remain at the helm are among the most ideologically entrenched and militarily committed members of the organization." Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 after it defeated its rival party, Fatah, which is part of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Despite the plurality vote nearly two decades ago, Hamas has struggled to maintain control and stability for years and its support – even in the lead up to the 2023 attacks that prompted the largest-ever war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – was reportedly lacking and its leadership growing increasingly unpopular. Israel and Egypt have limited the flow of goods into the Gaza Strip for the last two decades, and border crossing restrictions have been heavily enforced since the 1980s. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2025. However, according to a report by the Wilson Center, only a fraction of the population prior to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks blamed food shortages on external factors like sanctions, while a third blamed the Hamas-run government for mismanagement, while another quarter of the population blamed inflation. The report also found that nearly half of Palestinian civilians said they had no trust in Hamas' leadership, while roughly a third of the population threw their support behind the group. Support is believed to have dropped in the nearly 600 days that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, and the subsequent devastation brought to the Gaza Strip. "If the new aid mechanism succeeds in improving living conditions for Palestinians, surpassing what Hamas has been able to provide during wartime, it is unlikely to reverse the growing public dissatisfaction with the group," Truzman told Fox News Digital. "Even an imperfect but externally managed aid system may further expose Hamas's governance failures, particularly its prioritization of power retention over the welfare of the population. "While tangible improvements will take time to materialize, the mere perception that life can improve without Hamas may be enough to shift public attitudes further against the group," he added.
