How Hamas Profits $500K from Stolen Aid as Israeli Forces Battle in Jabaliya

As Israeli forces intensify their operations against Hamas in Jabaliya, northern Gaza, reports reveal how the terror group is seizing and profiting from humanitarian aid meant for Gaza’s civilians. Experts say that while the fighting is aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, the group continues to exploit the desperate situation for financial gain, looting aid to sustain its operations.

Professor Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, told The Press Service of Israel that Hamas has earned as much as $500,000 by selling humanitarian aid it looted from international organizations. “With this money, it pays salaries to its remaining members and manages to mobilize new ones,” Michael explained, adding that Hamas controls at least 50% of the aid entering Gaza.

Despite rigorous inspections by Israel before aid trucks enter Gaza, the situation on the ground quickly deteriorates as Hamas intercepts and confiscates much of the aid. “Once the aid crosses into Gaza, it’s supposed to be handled by international organizations. But these organizations are overwhelmed, and Hamas loots the aid even before it reaches them,” said Michael.

Israeli forces have intercepted conversations between Hamas operatives complaining about overflowing warehouses, underscoring the extent of the group's control over humanitarian supplies. Instead of reaching Gaza’s civilians, much of this aid is sold back to them at exorbitant prices, helping to fund Hamas’s activities and pay salaries to its fighters.

Gabi Siboni, an IDF reserve colonel and senior fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security, criticized both the IDF and the international community for failing to take control of aid distribution. He argued that humanitarian aid should not be directed toward areas where the IDF has ordered civilians to evacuate, adding, “It’s a strategic failure... The IDF should handle aid distribution inside Gaza to prevent Hamas from exploiting it.”

The exploitation of aid in Gaza is not new. Hamas has long used its influence over civilian infrastructure to generate revenue through taxes, food vouchers, and the sale of looted goods. Earlier this year, Hamas slashed food prices in Gaza, but residents said the real issue was not a lack of food, but a lack of money to buy it another consequence of the group’s stranglehold on local resources.

While the IDF continues to target Hamas’s military infrastructure in Jabaliya and beyond, experts agree that controlling aid distribution is essential to cutting off a key source of Hamas’s funding. Without stricter oversight, humanitarian relief efforts risk being co-opted by the terror group, prolonging the suffering of Gaza’s civilians and fueling Hamas’s war machine.

The war between Israel and Hamas continues to exact a devastating toll, with more than 1,200 people killed in the October 7 Hamas attacks and 252 individuals both Israelis and foreigners—taken hostage. As of now, 97 hostages remain in captivity, with more than 30 declared dead.

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