Hamas Covertly Targeted Canadian NGOs in Gaza to Divert Aid and Control Operations
According to a comprehensive report from the respected watchdog organization NGO Monitor, the terror group Hamas has systematically targeted numerous Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charities operating in Gaza. The objective was to infiltrate these humanitarian groups, steal aid resources, and attempt to control their operations through clandestine means.
Confidential Documents Reveal Stasi-Like Tactics
The shocking allegations are based on confidential Hamas documents from the 2018-2022 period, which were seized by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza. These documents, translated from their original Arabic, detail what NGO Monitor describes as "Stasi-like tactics" employed by Hamas to manipulate and coerce humanitarian structures.
The documents originated with the Gaza Interior Security Mechanism (ISM), a unit within the Hamas Ministry of Interior and National Security responsible for surveillance, counter-espionage, political dissent, and enforcement of Islamic law in Gaza. According to the report, Hamas implemented a campaign to infiltrate humanitarian organizations, often without their direct knowledge or awareness.
Canadian-Funded Organizations Targeted
The NGOs and charities collectively received millions in funding from Canadian sources or the federal government. Among the Canadian-funded organizations allegedly targeted by Hamas for surveillance, infiltration, or clandestine control were:
- Action Against Hunger (AAH)
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- Handicap International (HI)
- Islamic Relief Worldwide
- Médecins du Monde (MdM)
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- Save the Children
- World Vision
An IDF spokesman has verified the authenticity of these documents, lending credibility to the disturbing revelations.
The "Guarantor" System of Infiltration
According to the NGO Monitor report, Hamas attempted to insinuate itself into these organizations through what it called "guarantors." These were mostly local Gazans selected by Hamas to serve as the terror group's main points of contact within humanitarian organizations. Some of these individuals occupied senior positions such as directors, deputy directors, or even board chairs.
These guarantors were expected to provide Hamas with confidential information about planned activities, expenditures, and internal documents. The report alleges that a guarantor at Canadian-funded Handicap International was an actual Hamas member, while one at Catholic Relief Services was "affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)," a designated terrorist entity in Canada.
Significant Canadian Funding at Risk
The financial implications are substantial. According to NGO Monitor, between 2019 and 2021, Canada allocated $4 million to Handicap International, with an additional $22 million in 2024. Catholic Relief Services received $2.2 million from Canada in 2022. The office of the Prime Minister did not respond to requests for information about these reported grants when contacted.
NGO Responses and Denials
When approached for comment, responses from the targeted organizations varied significantly:
- Handicap International stated it had no evidence of Hamas infiltration.
- Catholic Relief Services did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
- MSF said it could not comment until they could guarantee the "provenance" of the documents.
- Save the Children maintained it is "an independent, impartial humanitarian organization" with strict compliance controls.
Extraordinary Surveillance Details
The documents contain remarkable detail about Hamas surveillance operations. One December 2022 document, branded with the logo of Hamas' Ministry of International and National Security, explicitly states: "These (guarantors) can be exploited for security purposes, in order to infiltrate foreign associations, their foreign senior staff and their movements on the field inside the Gaza Strip."
The 30-page NGO Monitor report contains forensic detail about the targeted guarantors, including their work locations, home addresses, financial status, spouses' names and jobs, religious observations, and family life. Some NGOs were even assessed by Hamas for their level of "cooperation."
Oxfam Connection Alleged
Another document from June 2021 alleges that Oxfam worked with a Hamas-linked group on an infrastructure project that "appears to have contributed to Hamas military preparations." Oxfam in the U.K. acknowledged receiving questions but referred them to their Canadian branch.
Laveza Khan, External Affairs Specialist for Oxfam, stated: "Oxfam takes the risk of aid diversion extremely seriously in Gaza as we do in all areas of our operations globally. We have clear policy and processes in place in order to prevent and respond to any risks or allegations. Oxfam has no links to Hamas, or any other Palestinian armed groups."
Calls for Government Accountability
NGO Monitor's President Gerald Steinberg emphasized the need for greater accountability: "Going forward, the Canadian government, like other officials in other countries, must take responsibility for the abuse of millions in taxpayer funds under the banner of humanitarian aid. This means hiring substantial independent auditing teams instead of relying on NGO self-reporting that is inaccurate and deceptive."
He added: "The vetting and oversight over all aid organizations and projects must be rigorous and transparent, particularly in regions like Gaza that are controlled by terror regimes."
The publication of these guarantor records makes it increasingly difficult for NGO officials to deny evidence of large-scale humanitarian aid diversion, according to Steinberg. The revelations raise serious questions about how Canadian taxpayer dollars are being spent in conflict zones and what safeguards exist to prevent funds from reaching terrorist organizations.
