Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists launched a brutal attack on southern Israel, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has funneled approximately $2 billion in American taxpayer funds into Gaza. This funding, officially designated as humanitarian aid, raises serious concerns about oversight, accountability, and the potential for funds to indirectly support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas. Given the longstanding U.S. policy of prohibiting aid to groups tied to terrorism, the situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need for rigorous vetting mechanisms to ensure that American tax dollars are not misused.
Following the October 7 attack, the Biden administration significantly increased aid to Gaza under the premise of humanitarian relief. The justification for this funding has primarily been the dire humanitarian conditions faced by Palestinian civilians due to the ongoing war. USAID, working alongside international agencies like the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), has directed funds toward food, medical supplies, and basic infrastructure support.
However, Gaza’s aid distribution system is deeply entangled with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization since 1997. Hamas has a long history of diverting international aid for its own purposes, including funding its military operations, constructing terror tunnels, and maintaining its control over the population. The lack of transparency in Gaza’s aid distribution system raises significant concerns about whether U.S. taxpayers’ money is actually reaching the intended recipients or if it is indirectly benefiting Hamas and its affiliated groups.
One of the biggest challenges in sending aid to Gaza is that Hamas controls nearly all aspects of governance, including aid distribution. The organization has repeatedly seized shipments of food, fuel, and medical supplies meant for civilians. Reports from multiple sources, including Israeli intelligence and independent humanitarian groups, have documented cases of Hamas confiscating aid and either redirecting it for military use or reselling it on the black market to generate revenue.
A prime example of this occurred in past conflicts when humanitarian supplies, including concrete meant for civilian infrastructure, were used to build terror tunnels. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have routinely discovered these tunnels constructed with materials originally intended for rebuilding homes and hospitals. Given this historical precedent, it is reasonable to question whether the current flow of aid is meeting its intended purpose.
The U.S. government has stringent policies to prevent aid from reaching terrorists. The State Department, along with the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), maintains lists of designated terrorist organizations and individuals. Before any aid is disbursed, it is supposed to be vetted against these lists to ensure that it does not benefit sanctioned entities.
However, in the case of Gaza, it is unclear whether USAID and its partner organizations have been thoroughly vetting recipients. The chaotic nature of Gaza’s governance and Hamas’ dominance make effective oversight extremely difficult. Additionally, U.S. officials have limited ability to monitor aid distribution on the ground. Unlike other conflict zones where American aid workers or military personnel can oversee distribution, Gaza is controlled entirely by Hamas, making external oversight nearly impossible.
Much of the U.S. aid to Gaza is funneled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). However, UNRWA itself has come under scrutiny for alleged ties to Hamas. In early 2024, multiple UNRWA employees were accused of participating in the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel. This revelation prompted several Western nations, including the United States, to temporarily halt funding to UNRWA, though the Biden administration later reinstated portions of the aid.
The reliance on UNRWA as a primary intermediary raises significant concerns about the integrity of the aid process. Despite past assurances that UNRWA employees are vetted for ties to terrorism, the agency has repeatedly been implicated in scandals involving Hamas infiltration. Schools run by UNRWA have been used as weapons storage sites, and educational materials distributed in Gaza have been found to promote anti-Israel and anti-Semitic propaganda.
If UNRWA and similar organizations are not properly vetting their staff and operations, it is highly likely that U.S. taxpayer funds are indirectly supporting individuals and institutions linked to Hamas.
The U.S. government’s $2 billion in aid to Gaza since October 7, 2023, represents a major test of its ability to prevent funds from being exploited by terrorist organizations. With Hamas firmly in control of the region and organizations like UNRWA facing serious credibility issues, there is a high likelihood that American taxpayer dollars are being misused.
Without robust oversight, aid intended for humanitarian relief could end up strengthening the very group responsible for one of the worst terrorist attacks in Israel’s history. Policymakers must prioritize accountability and enforce strict conditions on aid distribution to ensure that U.S. funds are used for their intended purpose—helping civilians, not funding terror.
