UN cash aid programs strengthen Hamas amid Gaza's humanitarian crisis
- International agencies send substantial cash assistance to Gaza residents to combat severe food insecurity, benefiting thousands of families.
- Hamas exploits its control over Gaza to redirect aid funding, leading to significant losses for those trying to access assistance.
- The situation highlights a pressing need for reform in aid distribution to ensure support reaches civilians rather than empowering militant groups.
In Gaza, the ongoing humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by international financial assistance from United Nations agencies. Each month, the U.N. World Food Programme distributes approximately USD 18.43 million to around 82,636 families to alleviate extreme food insecurity affecting nearly the entire population of Gaza. UNICEF also contributes around USD 5 million per month to provide support to at least 20,000 families facing dire conditions. However, reports indicate that this humanitarian aid is unintentionally bolstering the finances of Hamas, the de facto governing authority in Gaza. Experts, such as Eyal Ofer, warn that the terrorist organization has found ways to exploit its control over the territory to siphon funds meant for civilian aid. Many Gaza residents have reported challenges in accessing the cash assistance they receive, often subjected to fees ranging from 20% to 35% charged by traders facilitating the cash withdrawal process. The limited availability of cash within the banking system further complicates their efforts to access aid. As a result, many find themselves losing substantial portions of their assistance just to obtain usable cash, which in turn strengthens Hamas's economic position through taxation of merchants and salaries paid to organizational members. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has raised concerns regarding this aid flow, advocating for measures to curb the circulation of certain bills that he believes could cripple Hamas's financial network. UNICEF recognizes the ongoing cash liquidity crisis in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict impairing the banking system's functionality. Despite their efforts to assist nearly 1.8 million people suffering from food insecurity—including a significant number of children—there is growing criticism regarding the effectiveness of these aid strategies. Observers suggest that if humanitarian organizations are aware of how aid is being misappropriated, they must take responsibility to change their practices to ensure that funds genuinely reach families in need rather than augmenting the resources of a terrorist group.