The IDF Reveals How the Hamas Terrorist Organization Systematically Exploited Humanitarian Aid in Gaza To Fund Terrorist Activity
12.06.25
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Following an in-depth analysis of a wide range of intelligence reports, some of which can now be disclosed, the IDF is revealing the method by which the Hamas terrorist organization systematically exploited the humanitarian aid intended for the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Since the outbreak of the war, the Hamas terrorist organization identified the opportunity to take advantage of humanitarian aid and assumed control of aid distribution at large throughout the Gaza Strip, exploiting international aid organizations in the process. Throughout the war, there have been many instances in which Hamas terrorists have, both covertly and overtly embedded themselves on aid trucks with the goal of confiscating and taking control of the aid entering the Gaza Strip.
Hamas developed several methods to exploit the aid it had stolen:
1. Confiscation of Humanitarian Aid
Throughout the war, Hamas decided that varying portions (ranging from 15% to over 25%) of the humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip would be automatically diverted to the terrorist organization and its needs. The aid allocated to Hamas was either transferred to its terrorists on the ground or sold at high prices for profit at the expense of the residents of the Gaza Strip. The now revealed document proves that decisions were made on this matter during the war, including adjusting the percentage of aid diverted to Hamas based on the terrorist organization’s internal assessments.
2. Smuggling of Prohibited Goods
Hamas smuggled certain items, such as cigarettes, into the Gaza Strip in order to seize and resell them at inflated prices, while prohibiting independent merchants from selling them in the markets. In addition, Hamas smuggled these products into the Gaza Strip and sold them to merchants at inflated rates. It should be emphasized that the entry of cigarettes into the Gaza Strip via the crossings has not been approved as part of the humanitarian aid process. Throughout the war, security personnel from the Ministry of Defense’s Crossings Points Authority thwarted dozens of attempts to smuggle tobacco products.
3. Foreign Funding Funneling Mechanism
According to IDF assessments, Hamas has received hundreds of millions of shekels in the Gaza Strip from Iran and other funding sources through a funneling mechanism ("Hawala") operated by Hamas members based in Turkey, in coordination with senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip. Hamas exploited the humanitarian aid process and international aid organizations, whether knowingly or through manipulation, by pushing for the entry of “excess” aid items, purchased using Hamas’ external funds, into Gaza. Hamas then sold the aid at inflated prices to the residents and collected the cash proceeds.
4. The “Protection” Extortion Tactic
Hamas systematically exploited its de facto control throughout the Gazan territory to impose taxes and security fees, taking over entire industries and extracting profit through forced “protection” extortion schemes.
Today, it is estimated that Hamas has accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and goods by exploiting humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.
The halt in the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip at the beginning of March, following a directive from the political echelon, led to a significant decrease in Hamas’s profits. This caused severe financial difficulties within the organization, to the extent that they were forced to reduce, and at times completely suspend, salary payments to some of its members.
In parallel, in recent months, the IDF, led by the Intelligence Directorate and COGAT, has conducted an in-depth learning process. As part of this effort, a framework was formulated and launched to enhance oversight and monitoring of the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The process includes: registration of organizations, customs procedures, verification of aid content at the crossings, improved security inspections at the crossings, and the formulation of a sanctions protocol for organizations that fail to meet these conditions.
In recent months, humanitarian aid distribution in the Gaza Strip has resumed through dedicated distribution centers operated by international organizations and secured by the civilian company, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in a manner that was not feasible at the start of the war. This process has enabled the direct delivery of food packages to Gaza’s residents via the civilian company, effectively cutting Hamas off from direct control over humanitarian aid.
Graphic of documents collected in the Gaza Strip:
The IDF will continue to allow the operation of the distribution centers by international organizations, managed by the American civilian company while making every possible effort to ensure that the humanitarian aid does not reach the hands of the Hamas terrorist organization.
The method and intelligence now being revealed serve as clear and undeniable evidence to the entire world: the Hamas terrorist organization cares only about its own survival and its ability to harm the civilians of the State of Israel. Hamas is cynically exploiting the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Recordings of Conversations Between Two Gazans Revealing Hamas’ Method To Exploit Humanitarian Aid:
