The GHF humanitarian organization, based in the United States, issued a scathing denunciation of Hamas following a deadly assault on a bus transporting aid workers in Gaza. Simultaneously, the Israeli military exposed Hamas’s systematic diversion and misuse of humanitarian supplies intended for the residents of the region.
An IDF spokesperson revealed that during the conflict, Hamas personnel infiltrated aid deliveries—sometimes posing as civilians and other times joining openly—to hijack supplies earmarked for the local population. According to Israeli intelligence, which relied on both intercepted communications and internal documentation, Hamas declared itself the controlling body over aid distribution in Gaza. In reality, the group commandeered sizable portions for its own benefit. Internal records showed that Hamas mandated quotas—ranging from 15% to over 25%—of incoming aid to be taken regularly for its own use.
One such document, uncovered in Gaza and released to the public on Thursday, demonstrated an official Hamas directive specifying how much aid should be seized, with adjustments made periodically based on internal evaluations. The seized aid was either sold in Gaza’s markets for profit or directed to Hamas operatives and officials. Other findings revealed Hamas’s involvement in the smuggling of cigarettes into Gaza, which were then sold at inflated prices by Hamas members. Independent sellers were reportedly threatened to ensure compliance with this monopolistic practice. The IDF estimates that Hamas earned hundreds of millions of shekels through these illicit operations, often using the existing infrastructure of aid groups—whether through deceit or cooperation.
As part of its intelligence release, the IDF shared visuals and documents outlining four primary methods of Hamas’s exploitation: confiscation, smuggling, unlawful deductions, and extortion. These materials included charts illustrating the flow of foreign funds, transcripts of intercepted calls between Gaza residents describing the situation, and official Hamas communications—some translated—showing how aid was internally allocated.
In one intercepted phone call played by the IDF, two residents of Gaza discussed how Hamas looted flour from UNRWA warehouses and sold it at exorbitant rates. “They got the flour for free; they are selling it for 120 shekels, while I sell it for 60,” one man lamented. He continued, saying Hamas had raided UNRWA mills and stolen their inventory. The tone of the conversation was bitter and angry, with the speaker exclaiming, “To hell with them… Whatever happens to them—it’s not enough. They all are thieves. They all are dogs.”
The Israeli military also discovered that Hamas maintained strong financial relationships with networks in Turkey and Iran, relying on informal money transfer systems like hawala. These systems enabled the covert movement of funds into Gaza, which were then used to buy humanitarian goods that had been diverted and resold for profit.
In addition, Hamas reportedly extorted “security fees” from aid agencies, local vendors, and small business owners. Intelligence assessments indicate that the group used its dominance over the region to take over multiple sectors of commerce, impose heavy-handed taxes, and ensure that financial activity remained under its control.
Amid these revelations, the GHF, which operates independently of Hamas, condemned the recent attack on one of its buses transporting aid workers. The organization said the incident left five dead, several injured, and others possibly abducted. “The attack did not happen in a vacuum. For days, Hamas has openly threatened our team, our aid workers and the civilians who receive aid from us. Their threats have been met with silence,” GHF said in a statement.
Hamas claimed the people targeted were affiliated with the Abu Shabab militia, which it accused of being armed by Israel. However, representatives from that militia firmly rejected the accusation and released a statement identifying Hamas members allegedly behind the assault. “The blood of your workers has been spilled—and we will reveal all the evidence,” the statement warned the local population.
The IDF reported that beginning in March, when Israel briefly paused humanitarian shipments, Hamas experienced a severe financial crunch. This included diminished cash reserves and delays in paying its fighters. In response, Israel instituted a stringent regulatory system that includes registration of aid organizations, customs oversight, thorough security checks, and product restrictions—with penalties for non-compliance.
At present, the flow of humanitarian assistance is managed largely by global agencies under GHF’s security coordination. This structure is designed to exclude Hamas from the distribution process entirely.
“This is clear evidence for the world,” said the IDF spokesperson. “Hamas does not protect Gaza’s civilians—it cynically exploits them for military and financial gain. The IDF will continue to ensure that aid reaches civilians, not the terror group.”
{Matzav.com Israel}