Trendpills
An internal U.S. government analysis has concluded there is no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of American-funded humanitarian supplies in Gaza. The findings, detailed in a USAID report completed in late June, challenge a primary justification used by both the United States and Israel for altering aid distribution methods in the war-torn territory.
The review, conducted by a bureau within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), examined 156 reported incidents of theft or loss of U.S.-funded supplies between October 2023 and May 2025. According to a presentation of the findings, the analysis stated there were no reports alleging Hamas had benefited from aid diversions. The conclusions were reportedly shared with USAID's inspector general's office and State Department officials involved in Middle East policy.
However, the report's findings are disputed within the U.S. government. A State Department spokesperson contradicted the USAID analysis, claiming there is video evidence of Hamas looting aid, though no such videos were provided. According to multiple reports, this internal disagreement highlights the complexity of monitoring aid in a conflict zone. Israel has also long maintained, based on its intelligence, that Hamas systematically diverts humanitarian assistance for its own purposes.
The USAID analysis carries significant policy implications, as it undermines the rationale for backing a new private, armed aid operation designed to bypass the traditional UN system. The report emerges as the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, with international organizations repeatedly warning of deepening famine-like conditions amid the conflict. While the report found no systematic diversion by Hamas, theft and distribution hurdles remain a critical issue amid the ongoing war and breakdown of civil order.
