Despite mounting international pressure to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, newly analyzed data from the United Nations reveals a staggering failure in aid delivery.
Just 19 percent of all humanitarian trucks have successfully entered the region since mid–May.
The situation is even worse for the United Nations World Food Program – only 2 percent of its aid trucks have reached their intended destinations, with the rest being intercepted by starving Palestinians or due to looting by armed actors.
In September, only two of their trucks arrived, as 1,369 were blocked.
But a US official familiar with the UN’s tracking of aid tells the Daily Mail that the body’s data is flawed.
‘Their narrative – that no aid is making it into Gaza – is misleading,’ the US official says.
A source working in the State Department familiar with the programs tells Daily Mail that many of these trucks are looted by Hamas and gangs, pointing to ‘wild’ video evidence.
The UN has not publicly said that terrorist organizations are involved in the looting, but has been critical of the US for not supporting its aid work.
The IDF claims that footage shows Hamas terrorists on top of trucks looting humanitarian aid in the Gaza strip. The IDF said the footage is more evidence that Hamas is the ‘primary obstacle’ in the way of helping residents in the Gaza Strip
Israelis contend they’ve tried to coordinate delivery routes with the UN only to be castigated publicly. ‘The UN would turn around and eviscerate Israel in a press release. How do you build trust that way?’ the source said
Despite mounting international pressure to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, newly analyzed UN data reveals a staggering failure in aid delivery: just 19% of all their humanitarian trucks have successfully entered the region since mid–May
The situation is even worse for the United Nations World Food Program – only 2% of its aid trucks have reached their intended destinations, with the rest being intercepted
Another US official who worked on aid delivery at the USAID mission in Jerusalem sums up the system in one word: ‘clunky’
A State Department official says its the UN model for aid that’s ‘not working.’
‘Clunky,’ is how another US aid official describes it.
Another White House source involved closely with Middle East affairs called it ‘insane.’
Israelis contend they’ve tried to coordinate delivery routes with the UN only to be castigated publicly. ‘The UN would turn around and eviscerate Israel in a press release. How do you build trust that way?’ the source said.
The IDF claims footage shows Hamas terrorists on top of trucks looting humanitarian aid in Gaza, calling Hamas the ‘primary obstacle’ to helping residents. But a New York Times report noted Israeli military sources haven’t found concrete evidence directly linking Hamas.
‘The more you scratch the surface, the more it is clear that it is Hamas interference… then they would have to condemn Hamas publicly, but you would never see them do that,’ a senior administration official told Daily Mail.
The controversy has fed into the Trump administration’s push for a new system. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed initiative — delivers aid through vetted local NGOs and private contractors, bypassing the United Nations.
In contrast to UN figures, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation publishes its own daily operational updates showing large-scale food distributions.
For example, by late June, GHF had distributed over 50 million meals. As of early September, GHF reported nearly 152 million meals delivered through its distribution sites.
But the approach has turned deadly. According to the UN Human Rights Office, more than 1,000 people have been killed in recent weeks trying to reach aid at Israeli-coordinated distribution points. The UN argues Gazans must walk dangerous distances to access the aid.
To date, the UN has not publicly supported what administration officials call ‘much–needed backing’ for the GHF, arguing that Gazans have to walk long stretches to be able to access boxes of aid from specific distribution sites
Ultimately, the State Department source points to the UN’s own data, saying it confirms that the system is broken
‘The more you scratch the surface, the more it is clear that it is Hamas interference… then they would have to condemn Hamas publicly, but you would never see them do that,’ a senior administration official told Daily Mail
The USAID inspector general in July 2024 found that the US had problems vetting UN personnel for terrorist ties and issues related to the misuse of funds.
Although the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was officially registered this year, a former Trump administration official says the project originated under the Biden administration but was abandoned due to ‘bureaucratic incompetence.’
The USAID Office of Inspector General continues to investigate UN staff involvement in Hamas and the October 7 attacks.
Back in late July, in comments to reporters on Air Force One, Trump criticized the UN along with current aid routes, saying they are susceptible to theft by Hamas.
‘They send money. They send food. And Hamas steals it,’ the president said.
The USAID Office of Inspector General, an entity that operates independent from USAID – investigates fraud and diversion of foreign assistance. Their office highlighted their July 2024 report to Daily Mail, which detailed significant shortcomings and vulnerabilities in current measures aimed at preventing the diversion of aid to Hamas and other terrorist groups
Back in late July, in comments to reporters on Air Force One, Trump criticized the UN along with current aid routes, saying they are susceptible to theft by Hamas
Following his remarks on Air Force One in late July, Trump continued to voice his concerns about the United Nations’ handling of Gaza aid during his address at the 80th UN General Assembly
The US official who worked on aid delivery says – for people trapped in Gaza, the debate over trucks, politics and international turf wars means little—what matters is whether help actually arrives
The president also expressed frustration with the UN, saying the body isn’t living up to its potential in his address to the body last month.
The US official who worked on aid delivery says for people trapped in Gaza, the debate over politics and turf wars means little –– what matters is whether help actually arrives.
The United Nations and UNRWA did not respond to requests for comment.
