Fact check: Hamas has been stealing aid in gaza and selling it to the population

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal sharply conflicting evidence regarding Hamas's theft and sale of aid in Gaza.

Sources supporting the claim include Israeli government reports and media outlets that document Hamas looting aid packages and diverting aid for its own use ^[1]. The American Jewish Committee states that Hamas has turned Gaza's humanitarian crisis into a weapon of war, seizing, taxing, and diverting aid intended for civilians to reinforce political control ^[2]. BBC reporting indicates that Hamas has been distributing aid to its members and their families while the wider Gaza population accuses the group of stealing and selling aid ^[3]. The Times of Israel reports that Hamas has been commandeering humanitarian aid and handing it out to loyalists while other Gazans go hungry ^[4].

Sources contradicting the claim center on a US government USAID analysis that found no evidence of systematic theft by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian supplies ^{[5] [6]}. CNN reports that this USAID review found no indication of systemic loss due to Hamas interference or theft, and instead suggests that the Israel Defense Forces were responsible for the loss of US-provided aid in 28% of incidents ^[7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several critical pieces of context:

• Criminal gangs and merchants, not just Hamas, are involved in aid theft. The Associated Press reports that much of the limited aid entering Gaza is being hoarded by gangs and merchants and sold at exorbitant prices ^[8].
• The Israeli military may be responsible for significant aid losses. The USAID analysis found that Israeli Defense Forces were responsible for aid loss in 28% of incidents ^[7].
• Different types of aid may have different theft patterns. The US analysis specifically examined US-funded humanitarian supplies, while other reports may cover different aid sources ^{[5] [6]}.

Who benefits from each narrative:

• Israeli government officials and pro-Israel organizations like the American Jewish Committee benefit from the narrative that Hamas systematically steals aid, as it justifies military operations and aid restrictions
• US government agencies benefit from findings that show their aid monitoring is effective and that systematic Hamas theft is not occurring
• Hamas leadership would benefit from disputing theft allegations to maintain legitimacy with the Gaza population

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement presents a definitive claim without acknowledging the significant contradictory evidence from US government analysis. The statement fails to distinguish between:

• Systematic, widespread theft versus isolated incidents
• Different sources and types of aid (US-funded vs. other international aid)
• Hamas versus other actors (criminal gangs, merchants) involved in aid diversion

The statement also omits that US government analysis specifically contradicts claims of systematic Hamas theft ^{[5] [6] [7]}, while Israeli intelligence reports support the theft allegations ^[5]. This represents a significant intelligence disagreement between allies that the original statement does not acknowledge.

The framing suggests certainty where substantial dispute exists between different government analyses and intelligence assessments.