In recent months, numerous claims have circulated internationally alleging that Israel is deliberately starving civilians in Gaza. These accusations are both misleading and damaging, ignoring the central role that Hamas — a designated terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Canada, and other nations — plays in creating humanitarian suffering in the region. This report seeks to clarify the facts, present historical context, and outline why the real responsibility for civilian hardship lies with Hamas and its allies, including Hezbollah.

While critics have pointed to shortages of food and medicine in Gaza, the reality is that Israel has facilitated — and continues to facilitate — humanitarian aid through various channels, including the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israel routinely inspects and allows truckloads of supplies into Gaza, even during ongoing hostilities, to ensure that civilians have access to basic needs.

However, Hamas has a well-documented record of:

• Seizing aid meant for civilians and redirecting it for military use.

• Selling humanitarian supplies on the black market to fund their operations.

• Blocking distribution to areas that do not support their rule.

Thus, the real obstacle to aid reaching civilians is not Israel, but Hamas’ deliberate exploitation of humanitarian resources as a weapon of control.

Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, has consistently prioritized its war against Israel over the welfare of its people. It has invested in building extensive tunnel networks, stockpiling rockets, and indoctrinating children in militant ideology — all while neglecting infrastructure, healthcare, and food distribution.

Similarly, Hezbollah in Lebanon serves as another proxy of Iranian interests, using civilian areas to store weapons and launch attacks, deliberately placing noncombatants in harm’s way to generate propaganda when Israel responds. Both organizations meet the international criteria for terrorist designation due to their intentional targeting of civilians and use of violence for political aims.

• 2005 Disengagement: Israel fully withdrew from the Gaza Strip, removing every soldier and dismantling all settlements in an attempt to foster peace and allow the Palestinian Authority to govern.

• 2006–2007 Power Shift: After elections and a violent internal conflict, Hamas forcibly expelled the Palestinian Authority from Gaza, establishing its authoritarian rule.

• Repeated Conflicts: Since then, Hamas has initiated multiple wars against Israel, firing rockets indiscriminately at civilian population centers. Each escalation has worsened the humanitarian situation for Gazans, yet Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire offers that could have improved living conditions.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza will not be resolved until Hamas’ control ends. Israel has the right — and arguably the duty — to protect its citizens and neutralize threats. One possible course of action is to liberate the people of Gaza from the grip of terrorist organizations, dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities, and establish a governance system that prioritizes civilian well-being.

Such an operation, if conducted with precision and international oversight, could:

• Restore free movement of humanitarian aid without fear of diversion.

• Rebuild infrastructure with genuine civilian benefit in mind.

• Provide a foundation for future coexistence and peace.

The narrative that Israel is starving the people of Gaza is not supported by the full facts. The true cause of civilian suffering lies with Hamas’ deliberate exploitation of its population for political and military purposes. Alongside Hezbollah, Hamas represents an ongoing threat not only to Israel’s security but also to the stability and prosperity of the Middle East.

If lasting peace and humanitarian recovery are to be achieved, these terrorist organizations must be dismantled, and the people of Gaza must be freed from their oppressive rule. Israel, in coordination with international partners, can and should take decisive steps to eradicate these threats and pave the way for a future in which civilians on both sides can live in safety and dignity.