US Aid Theft Claims Debunked: Government Review Finds No Widespread Hamas Involvement
Aid Losses Linked to Israeli Military Actions, Partner Groups Report
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New analysis reveals a significant portion of lost US-provided aid in Gaza between October 2023 and May 2025 was attributed to actions or directives from teh Israel defence Forces (IDF), according to reports from partner organizations.
IDF Directives Contributed to 28% of Aid Losses
A recent analysis of incidents involving the theft or waste of US-provided aid in Gaza has uncovered a concerning trend: in 28% of these cases, the loss was directly or indirectly linked to the actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This finding, based on reports from partner organizations working on the ground, paints a stark picture of the challenges faced in delivering essential supplies to those in need.
High-Risk Routes and Airstrikes Cited
The analysis, presented in a detailed breakdown, highlighted several key factors contributing to these losses.Among them were the loss of goods due to airstrikes, the impact of evacuation orders, and IDF directives that compelled partners to use high-risk delivery routes, frequently enough against their own requests for safer alternatives.
“Partners often noted that looting occurred en route (to distribution sites) despite extensive coordination with the IDF,” the presentation stated. “When partners desired to take alternate routes due to high risk of theft or looting, they were forced by the IDF to take riskier routes with known threats putting commodities at risk.”
This suggests a systemic issue where operational decisions by the IDF inadvertently,or perhaps directly,jeopardized the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. The reliance on routes known to be dangerous, even when partners flagged the risks, raises serious questions about the prioritization of aid delivery versus military objectives.
IDF Response and Hamas Allegations
When presented with these findings, the IDF did not offer a direct response to the specific claims of duty for aid losses. However, they reiterated their long-standing assertion that “it has been well documented throughout the war how Hamas systematically exploited humanitarian aid to fund terrorist activities in various ways.”
While the IDF’s concerns about Hamas’s alleged exploitation of aid are noted, the partner organizations’ reports point to a different, and perhaps equally impactful, set of challenges stemming from IDF actions themselves. The discrepancy between the IDF’s focus on Hamas and the partner groups’ direct experiences with IDF-mandated routes and conditions highlights a complex and potentially dangerous surroundings for humanitarian operations.
This story has been updated with additional information, and CNN’s Dana Karni contributed to this report.