International-News

Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid, but the IDF admits: ‘There is no evidence.’

Two senior Israeli officers deny accusations against Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid in Gaza. NGOs sound the alarm: ‘Imminent catastrophe, famine on the way.’

For almost two years, Israel has accused Hamas of illegally appropriating humanitarian aid destined for the Gaza Strip, provided by international organisations and the United Nations. These accusations have served as justification for imposing severe restrictions on the entry of essential goods into Palestinian territory. However, according to an exclusive investigation published by the New York Times, two senior IDF (Israel Defence Forces) officers have admitted that there is no concrete evidence that Hamas has stolen aid provided by the United Nations, the main humanitarian operator in the region.

First-hand testimony: “Unfounded accusations”
Georgios Petropoulos, a former UN official in Gaza who was responsible for coordinating aid with Israel for over a year of war, spoke of “defamatory” accusations that have seriously damaged humanitarian work. “For months, we and other organisations have been inundated with accusations that Hamas was stealing from us. But there is no evidence,” he said.

The two Israeli officers interviewed explained that the aid distribution system managed directly by the United Nations was structured in such a way as to minimise the risk of interference by Hamas, as the logistics chain operated entirely within Gaza. This contradicts the Israeli government’s public statements, which have repeatedly claimed that Hamas was using aid to finance terrorist activities.

The government insists: ‘Hamas controls supplies’
Despite the internal denial, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the official line. In March, after the failure of the ceasefire with Hamas, Netanyahu said that the Islamist group ‘is taking control of all supplies and goods entering Gaza,’ adding that Israel would prevent further entries into the territory.

The Israeli army also continued to release videos and documents to support the hypothesis of Hamas’ involvement in the hijacking of aid, but officials quoted by the New York Times confirm the absence of evidence.

NGOs sound the alarm: famine and despair
Meanwhile, more than 100 humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations have launched a desperate appeal, speaking openly of an ‘imminent humanitarian catastrophe’ and denouncing a rapidly worsening situation of mass famine. The organisations are calling on Israel to immediately lift restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The Palestinian population, exhausted by months of war and besieged by hunger, is forced to walk for miles to reach the few distribution points, often located in areas controlled by Israeli forces. The queues are long, opening hours are limited and supplies run out in a matter of hours.

A new system, same problems
At the end of May, a new aid distribution system was introduced, managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). However, this model has encountered serious difficulties from the outset: daily violence, lack of coordination and scarcity of resources. According to the New York Times, tension is running high near distribution centres, and the situation continues to worsen.

THE LATEST NEWS