Hamas bounties on American aid workers in Gaza have confirmed the terror group’s efforts to undermine U.S.-led humanitarian relief and reignite anti-Israel propaganda. A June 30 State Department cable obtained by the Washington Free Beacon reveals Hamas has “formally placed bounties” on staff with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), threatening both Palestinian and U.S. personnel operating food distribution sites in the region.
The cable, sent from the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, identifies GHF as a direct threat to Hamas’s power. Hamas has demanded GHF cease operations and insists that any ceasefire must restore control to U.N. aid programs—programs long criticized for enriching the terror group. “Hamas’s insistence that GHF go away as part of a ceasefire serves to illustrate just how much of a threat it is to them,” a senior U.S. official said.
The GHF has operated independently since February, delivering over 65 million meals without funneling resources to Hamas. Unlike the U.N.’s scandal-plagued UNRWA, GHF uses American veterans as security and enforces strict controls on aid delivery. “The courageous work of the GHF will continue for as long as Gazans are in need of food,” the official confirmed.
The U.N. has refused to support GHF, instead criticizing Israel and defending aid channels repeatedly exploited by Hamas. “It’s disgusting to see the U.N. echoing Hamas narratives,” the official told the Free Beacon.
“The U.N. and many in the mainstream media are nothing more than useful idiots for Hamas,” the official continued. “Seeing their grift threatened, the U.N. would rather see food rot… than cooperate with the only mechanism that is working: the GHF. It’s shameful.”
According to the State Department, Hamas looted U.N. aid as recently as June 23, profiting from black-market sales and using resources to fund fresh recruitment after October 7.
