The Israeli government regularly accuses the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas of looting aid supplies in the Gaza Strip. However, a new report from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contradicts that claim. According to USAID’s Office of Humanitarian Assistance, an investigation found no evidence of systematic diversion of U.S.-funded aid shipments. The investigation reviewed 156 cases of theft or loss of aid in the Palestinian territory between October 2023 and May 2025.
None of the reports indicated that Hamas had benefited from the deliveries, according to documents obtained by Reuters. The investigation concluded that at least 44 of the incidents were directly or indirectly caused by actions of the Israeli military. Israel cites intelligence reports However, the authors of the USAID report did issue a caveat: because the Palestinian recipients of aid could not be independently verified, it is possible that some of the deliveries reached Hamas administrative officials.
The Israeli government, which controls access to the Gaza Strip, maintains its position. According to Israeli intelligence reports, Hamas diverts up to a quarter of all aid deliveries for its fighters or sells the goods to civilians. The U.S. State Department also rejected USAID’s findings. A spokesperson said there was video evidence of Hamas looting, though none was provided. Hamas has denied all accusations.
Foreign governments now allowed to airdrop supplies Meanwhile, foreign states will now be allowed to airdrop aid supplies into Gaza. This was reported by Israel’s Army Radio, citing a military official. According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), nearly a quarter of the 2.1 million people living in the densely populated coastal enclave—sealed off by Israel—are experiencing famine-like conditions.
Thousands suffer from acute malnutrition, and the World Health Organization (WHO) along with medical professionals report deaths from hunger, including among children. At the same time, violent incidents continue to erupt at aid distribution points. Reports indicate that hundreds of Palestinians have already been killed.
