An analysis of the US government does not find evidence of systematic robbery of humanitarian aid by Hamas
An internal analysis of the US government did not find evidence of systematic theft by the Palestinian militant group Hamas of humanitarian supplies financed by Washington, an argument wielded by Israel and the US to support the private food distribution system, regardless of the United Nations
The analysis, to which the Reuters agency has had access was carried out by an office of the United States Agency for International Development and examines 156 incidents of theft or loss of supplies funded by the US between October 2023 and May of this year.
The study was conducted by the USAID Humanitarian Assistance Office, which was the biggest financing of Gaza aid before the Trump administration freezing all foreign aid in January. The analysis reveals that at least 44 of the 156 incidents in which the theft or loss of help supplies were “directly or indirectly” due to Israeli military actions.
A source familiar with the study, however, warns that the absence of evidence on the systematic deviation of help from Hamas “does not mean that it has not occurred.”
Israel, who controls access to Gaza, accuses the militia of stealing the UN and other organizations for food supplies to use them to control the civilian population and profit, even increasing the prices of the products and reverting them to civilians. Hamas denies the accusations.
The Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza, responsible for the Private Help Distribution System, also accuses Hamas of massive aid. (Reuters)
