Hamas exploits food shortages to recruit teenagers in Gaza

In Gaza, Hamas has reportedly manipulated the food supply as a means to recruit teenagers for its operations. This tactic has been exacerbated by claims of famine and the pressure on Israel to provide aid. Organizations like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have been established to help alleviate hunger among the Gaza population, claiming to have delivered over 42 million meals. However, reports indicate that Hamas has taken control of these food supplies, using them to exert influence and recruit minors into their ranks. According to aid workers, Hamas allegedly pays children to do their bidding, solidifying its power through fear and manipulation. Experts note that this method of control is not new, as other terror groups have historically used food and social structures to recruit and maintain influence. The tactics initially emerged from ideologies similar to those of the Muslim Brotherhood, which sought to win the hearts of the population by providing essential services. Hamas has mirrored these strategies in Gaza, promoting loyalty to gain access to necessities like fuel, medical supplies, and food. This dynamic keeps the population reliant on the group, which thrives on portraying itself as the protector amidst external conflict. The situation has political ramifications as well; by showcasing hardship through media portrayals, Hamas seeks to generate international sympathy that pressures global powers, specifically Israel, to intervene. Dr. Nesya Rubinstein-Shemer highlights that this control over food supply does not stem from a genuine concern for the population but is strategically used to heighten their suffering. Ultimately, while the area is not experiencing outright starvation, the management of food and resources heavily impacts social dynamics and power relations within Gaza. With ongoing conflict, the recruitment numbers for Hamas appear to have stabilized, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who noted that Hamas recruits have been approximately equal to its losses in the ongoing war. This recruitment strategy, compounded by systemic control over resources, makes it difficult to change the organization’s dominance in Gaza, illustrating a complex interplay of aid, control, and coercion that continues to characterize the humanitarian crisis in the region.