Washington
An internal U.S. government analysis by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has found no evidence of widespread theft of U.S.-funded humanitarian aid by Hamas in Gaza. The findings challenge one of the key justifications given by Israel and the U.S. for backing a new, militarized private aid operation in the region.
The review, completed in late June by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), examined 156 incidents of theft or loss of aid between October 2023 and May 2024. According to a slide presentation reviewed by Reuters, the analysis found “no reports alleging Hamas” had benefited from the stolen supplies.
Despite this, a State Department spokesperson disputed the findings, claiming that video evidence exists of Hamas looting aid. However, no such evidence was provided, and the spokesperson further accused established humanitarian groups of concealing corruption.
The findings were shared with USAID’s inspector general and senior State Department officials. They come as Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with nearly a quarter of its 2.1 million people experiencing famine-like conditions, according to the U.N.
The study also found that at least 44 of the 156 reported aid losses were directly or indirectly caused by Israeli military actions. Israel has not commented on these findings.
The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new private aid group using a for-profit logistics firm led by former U.S. military personnel, has come under criticism. The U.N. estimates Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 people near GHF’s distribution sites.
The study acknowledged limitations, including the inability to fully vet aid recipients, leaving open the possibility that some aid may have reached Hamas officials. Still, no systematic diversion was documented. The war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack, has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.