28-07-2025
Anon. Israeli military officials deny Hamas routinely steals aid
IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani dismissed the report as 'fake news.'
Anonymous IDF officials claimed there was no evidence to suggest thatHamas routinely stole humanitarian aid, the New York Times reported on Saturday, while denying the Israeli military ever published proof that the Palestinian terror group systematically looted humanitarian resources.
Military officials allegedly told the American outlet that the UN's aid distribution system had been relatively reliable and less susceptible to Hamas's looting efforts than other aid organizations.
The officials also said that concern was raised by senior members of the IDF to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military advisor about the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's position as Gaza's sole aid provider, according to the report.
Officials from the IDF reportedly encouraged the UN to be allowed to hand out aid not included in GHF packages, such as medical supplies. However, three people familiar with the discussions told the NYT that this suggestion was dismissed.
IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani dismissed the report as 'fake news.'
'It has been well documented throughout the war how Hamas systematically exploited humanitarian aid to fund terrorist activities in various ways,' he wrote on X/Twitter. 'Part of the Evidence of Hamas' exploitation was sent to the @nytimes and many other news outlets.'
Theft of USAID
The report comes only shortly after a US State Department official dismissed an internal US government analysis that found no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian supplies.
The analysis was conducted by a bureau within the US Agency for International Development and completed in late June. It examined 156 incidents of theft or loss of US-funded supplies reported by US aid partner organizations between October 2023 and this May.
It found 'no reports alleging Hamas' benefited from US-funded supplies, according to a slide presentation of the findings seen by Reuters.
A State Department spokesperson disputed the findings, saying there is video evidence of Hamas looting aid, but provided no such videos. The spokesperson also accused traditional humanitarian groups of covering up "aid corruption."
Asked about the USAID report, the IDF told Reuters that its allegations are based on intelligence reports that Hamas terrorists seized cargoes by "both covertly and overtly," embedding themselves on aid trucks.
Those reports also show that Hamas has diverted up to 25% of aid supplies to its fighters or sold them to civilians, the IDF said, adding that GHF has ended the militants' control of aid by distributing it directly to civilians.
Hamas denies the allegations. A Hamas security official said that Israel has killed more than 800 Hamas terrorists who the group claimed were 'trying to protect aid vehicles and convoy routes.'
However, a large amount of evidence and testimony has been shared throughout the nearly two-year war, confirming that Hamas has stolen aid.
The study on USAID admitted that aid recipients cannot be vetted, supplies could have reached Hamas administrative officials without detection, and officials had lost access to classified intelligence systems, which would have highlighted Hamas's theft of resources.
Ezra Taylor contributed to this report.
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