US Government Review Finds No Evidence of Widespread Hamas Theft of Gaza Aid—Contradicting Key Claims

An internal analysis by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has found no evidence that Hamas systematically stole US-funded humanitarian aid in Gaza. This finding challenges longstanding claims by Israel and some US officials that Hamas was diverting or looting large quantities of aid, which had been used to justify restrictions and controls on aid delivery. The report acknowledges some incidents of lost or stolen aid but attributes many of these to other factors, including actions by civilians and the Israeli military. The State Department has disputed the findings but has not provided concrete evidence to support its position. The debate over aid diversion continues amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.