U.S. investigation fails to uncover widespread instances of Hamas allegedly misappropriating Gaza relief funds.
In the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, claims of widespread theft of US-funded aid by Hamas have been a contentious issue. However, recent investigations and analyses have failed to substantiate these allegations.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) conducted a review of 156 incidents of waste, fraud, and abuse in US-funded humanitarian aid in Gaza between October 2023 and May 2025. The review found no evidence of widespread theft by Hamas or affiliations with sanctioned groups or foreign terrorist organizations.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have also dismissed reports alleging routine theft of aid by Hamas, stating there is no evidence of systematic theft of US or UN aid supplies. Similarly, an internal USAID analysis found no proof of widespread aid diversion; some aid might indirectly benefit Hamas due to local conditions, but no massive or systematic diversion was identified.
Reuters and other independent sources have not confirmed the allegations with publicly available evidence. The State Department's claims of "endless video evidence of Hamas looting" and "intelligence" showing significant aid diversion remain unsubstantiated.
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed there is widespread theft of humanitarian aid by Hamas, justifying support for the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF). However, the USAID analysis found that the IDF was either directly or indirectly responsible for the loss of US-provided aid in 28% of incidents of theft or waste between October 2023 and May 2025.
Amidst these findings, thousands continue to suffer from malnutrition, and more than a dozen people have starved to death this week due to ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid. The situation in Gaza remains critical, and calls for additional support for the GHF and humanitarian aid organisations have grown louder.
The State Department deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, called for additional support for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to deliver aid. However, it is clear that the claims of widespread theft by Hamas are unfounded and do not provide a valid justification for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
[1] USAID Internal Analysis, June 2025 [2] IDF Spokesperson Statement, June 2025 [3] Reuters Investigation, June 2025
- Despite various claims, the USAID analysis, an IDF statement, and a Reuters investigation in June 2025 found no substantial evidence supporting the allegation of widespread theft of US-funded humanitarian aid by Hamas in Gaza.
- The Trump administration's justification for supporting the Gaza Humanitarian Fund based on claims of widespread theft by Hamas appears to be unfounded, as findings from USAID, the IDF, and Reuters have failed to substantiate these allegations.
- In the midst of an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with thousands suffering from malnutrition and numerous deaths due to aid restrictions, political claims of theft by Hamas have not been substantiated by investigations in the fields of science, health-and-wellness, general news, crime-and-justice, war-and-conflicts, or any reliable sources, casting doubt on their validity.
