US government review found no evidence of widespread Hamas theft of Gaza aid
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
US government review found no evidence of widespread Hamas theft of Gaza aid
“We want to see as much getting into Gaza as possible in a way that is not being looted by Hamas, and this mechanism, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been a way to do that,” the spokesperson said. “The majority of incidents could not be definitively attributed to a specific actor” “We will continue to assess the most effective way to deliver the people of Gaza,’” said the spokesperson. � “That’s the majority of the incidents.”“There was no indication that there was a systemic loss” of US-provided-by-the-U.S. and “a significant portion of non-victimized’ by the U.S., the spokesperson added.� “I’m going to see if there is a way for us to get into the way of the other side of the fence,�” he said.“I don’t think we’re going to be able to get in and out of the way.’
An internal US government review found no evidence of widespread theft by Hamas of US-funded humanitarian aid in Gaza, contradicting the State Department’s claims that were used to justify backing a controversial private organization that took over aid distribution in the enclave.
The analysis, conducted by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), looked into 156 incidents of waste, fraud, and abuse reported by partner organizations between October 2023 and May 2025.
The review of the incidents, which was first reported by Reuters, “found no affiliations” with sanctioned groups or foreign terrorist organizations, according to a presentation seen by CNN.
“There was no indication that there was a systemic loss due to Hamas interference or theft or diversion,” a source familiar with the report told CNN.
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed there is widespread theft of humanitarian aid by Hamas. They have said that only the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a private US and Israel-backed organization, is able to distribute assistance to the besieged enclave without such theft occurring.
“We want to see as much aid getting into Gaza as possible in a way that is not being looted by Hamas, and this mechanism, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been a way to do that,” State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Thursday. “We’re calling for additional support of that foundation to deliver that aid.”
The USAID findings were presented to officials working in the State Department’s Middle East bureau, as well as people working on humanitarian aid and the USAID Office of the Inspector General. USAID ceased operations on July 1 and some of its work was transferred to the State Department. However, the USAID watchdog remains operational. It is unclear if the findings have been relayed to State Department leadership.
More than 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces while seeking aid, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the United Nations, with 60% killed while trying to reach GHF sites. Thousands are suffering from malnutrition and more than a dozen people have starved to death this week amid ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid.
A State Department spokesperson claimed there is “endless video evidence of Hamas looting” and “intelligence” showing that “a significant portion of non-GHF aid trucks have been diverted, looted, stolen, or ‘self-distributed.’” The spokesperson did not provide examples of the video evidence. They also accused aid workers of lying about looting “in a poor attempt at an aid corruption coverup.”
“As the situation on the ground develops, we will continue to assess the most effective way to deliver aid to the people of Gaza,” the spokesperson said.
The USAID analysis, which was completed in late June, noted that “the majority of incidents could not be definitively attributed to a specific actor.”
“Partners often largely discovered that commodities had been stolen in transit without identifying the perpetrator,” the presentation said.
Given the perpetrator could not be identified, it is possible that Hamas has stolen aid, two sources said. However, they cast doubt on the idea that there would be systemic theft without any evidence. Humanitarian officials in the past have also said they did not experience widespread diversion.
One of the sources noted that USAID does not vet the beneficiaries of its aid, so in theory, the families of Hamas government officials in Gaza could have received aid, “but that’s not an armed faction of Hamas. That’s the population of Gaza.”
The USAID analysis found that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “was either directly or indirectly responsible for the loss” of US-provided aid in 28% of incidents of theft or waste between October 2023 and May 2025. The finding was based on the reports from partners organizations.
According to a presentation of the analysis, this included the loss of goods due to “airstrikes, evacuation orders, or IDF direction to use high risk delivery routes against partner requests.”
“Partners often noted that looting occurred en route (to distribution sites) despite extensive coordination with the IDF,” the presentation said. “When partners desired to take alternate routes due to high risk of theft or looting, they were forced by the IDF to take riskier routes with known threats putting commodities at risk.”
The IDF did not respond to the findings of the report but claimed that “it has been well documented throughout the war how Hamas systematically exploited humanitarian aid to fund terrorist activities in various ways.”
CNN’s Dana Karni contributed to this report.
Olathe Fire Department prepares for potential flooding and water rescue missions
The Olathe Fire Department Water Rescue team has been sent on 11 water rescues in the last week. Captain Robert Collins said a majority of the rescues involve cars stalled out in flood waters. Collins said the most important thing Collins wants people caught in flood water to do is get to a safe location and call 911. The Kansas City Fire Department had to use an inflatable boat to rescue a woman clinging to a tree on Monday. 62-year-old Anupama Vaidya was killed by flash flood waters in Overland Park, Kansas on Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for the Kansas City area through Thursday night and into Friday. For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
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OLATHE, Kansas (KMBC) — Drying wet suits and life jackets are an obvious reminder of the busy week the Olathe Fire Department Water Rescue team has had.
Captain Robert Collins said they’ve been sent on 11 water rescues in the last week.
“Those have definitely come in handy, because we’ve been anywhere from waist deep to knee deep in this water,” Collins said.
Heavy rain and more flooding is expected Thursday night and into Friday, which means Collins and his team are preparing for more water rescues. Collins said a majority of the rescues involve cars stalled out in flood waters.
“People think they can just speed through it and get through it fast enough before their systems flood out, but it doesn’t take a lot for your system to get flooded out,” Collins said.
Any time you encounter a flooded roadway, Collins wants you to turn around and find an alternate route.
If you do find yourself in your stalled car in high waters, Collins said the first thing you should do is call 911. He does not want you to leave your car.
Collins said the water may not appear to be moving on the surface, but underneath it can be quick enough to pull you off your feet.
Flood waters can also uncover manholes, leading to a potentially deadly suction.
“Even if you are wearing a life jacket, that force pulling you down can be so strong that it wouldn’t matter anyway,” Collins said. “But, especially so if you don’t have a life jacket, because the water moving into the sewer system is going to be moving a lot faster than a water above, because that’s created to drain.”
When first responders rescue drivers from stranded cars, they walk in a pyramid formation and use a pole to scout the way in front of them.
“As we’re walking and the lead guy is scanning back and forth, what he’s looking for is any manholes that might have popped up create a drain or a siphon to pull any of us down,” Collins said.
The Olathe Fire Department’s Water Rescue team does have multiple boats available. Collins said those are only used in the event of the water being too high for first responders to safely navigate it on two feet.
The Kansas City Fire Department had to use an inflatable boat to rescue a woman clinging to a tree in flood waters on Monday.
Just earlier that day, 62-year-old Anupama Vaidya was killed by flash flood waters in Overland Park.
If you find yourself encountering rising waters near a river or creek, Collins said you need to get to the highest ground you can find immediately.
Flash flooding can send water rushing at you quickly.
“The narrower the banks are, the faster the water is going to move,” Collins said. “The wider it is, usually the slower the water is going to move.
If you are caught in a swelling creek, Collins said you need to watch out for any debris that could be coming your way.
“You could be dealing with a lot of hazardous materials, chemicals, different things that start to float from the water and out of the sewer system,” Collins said.
The most important thing Collins wants people caught in flood waters to do is get to a safe location and call 911.
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Family and friends of 15-year-old girl killed in Elsmere shooting honor her memory
A 15-year-old girl was shot and killed in Elsmere and was remembered with a balloon release. Her boyfriend is charged with her murder. Friends said Tristen was excited for her sophomore year, for more football games, more sleepovers and more time to be a kid. She was outgoing, full of life and incredibly kind, a friend said. She died Monday night after suffering gunshot wounds to the arm and the chest, police say.
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ELSMERE, Ky. (WLWT) — Family and friends of a Northern Kentucky teenager are mourning an unimaginable loss.
A 15-year-old girl was shot and killed in Elsmere and was remembered with a balloon release.
Police say her 15-year-old boyfriend is charged with her murder.
Roughly 100 people, including former classmates and cheer teammates, honored Tristen Smith, saying she was outgoing, full of life and incredibly kind.
It was a sea of pink and yellow, Tristen’s favorite colors, as her favorite people gathered, clutching bundles of balloons.
“We made a lot of good memories, and it’s really sad that she had to go and that it had to end this way,” said Tristen’s friend, Kaylee Chambers.
Elsmere police say the 15-year-old died Monday night after suffering gunshot wounds to the arm and the chest.
Her death is being investigated as a domestic violence situation.
“We’ll forever love her, we’ll forever miss her, she was taken way too soon. She never deserved it,” said Tristen’s lifelong friend, Kara Musgrove.
Her friends said Tristen was excited for her sophomore year, for more football games, more sleepovers and more time to be a kid.
These teenagers are faced with tragedy and trying to honor Tristen’s life while grappling with how it ended.
“There’s nothing that you can really say to describe how most of us or all of us here feel about this situation,” said her friend Amyiah Thompson.
Still, when they think of Tristen, friends say they will remember all the things she loved.
“She loved cheering, she loved to dance,” Kara said.
Tristen, deeply missed by all who knew her.
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Live updates: Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks stall as mass starvation crisis grows
US and Israeli officials have now left Doha, and Egyptian negotiators are also set to depart. But a senior Israeli official tells CNN that the talks have “not at all’ collapsed. The official argued that Hamas’ latest response was “disconnected from reality” Israel is prepared to send a delegation back to Doha if Hamas revises its demands.
“This is an earthquake,” said one source with direct knowledge of the talks. “We’re dealing with the aftershock.”
US and Israeli officials have now left Doha, and Egyptian negotiators are also set to depart, according to two sources.
As Hamas cries foul, the framework for these ceasefire negotiations is now hanging by a thread.
But a senior Israeli official tells CNN that the talks have “not at all” collapsed — and there is still an opportunity for the negotiations to resume.
The official argued that Hamas’ latest response was “disconnected from reality,” adding that Israel cannot agree to the militant group’s demand for the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for Israeli hostages. If Hamas revises its demands, the official said Israel is prepared to send a delegation back to Doha.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s statement that he is pulling back from the Doha talks because Hamas is negotiating in “bad faith” appears designed to try and jolt Hamas back to the realm of what is achievable.
In the wake of that statement, the senior Israeli official said that Israel hopes that Hamas will “reconnect itself to reality” so the remaining gaps can be bridged.
The official accused Hamas of being disconnected from both the reality of what Israel will agree to as well as from people in Gaza.
Friends searching for answers in killing of Oklahoman in Syria
Hosam Saraya lived in Oklahoma for years and graduated with a degree from Oklahoma Christian University. Friends described Saraya as a man who genuinely cared about people. Saraya was a part of the Druze community and was in the Suwayda Province in southern Syria at the time of his death. The group that carried out the execution of the man is known as HTS, or Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a friend said. He had made the trip from Oklahoma City to see his father, who had become ill, and was killed with his uncle, father and cousins.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — An Oklahoman killed in Syria has gained attention nationally and from Oklahoma lawmakers in Congress.
Hosam Saraya lived in Oklahoma for years and graduated with a degree from Oklahoma Christian University in 2016.
Friends described Saraya as a man who genuinely cared about people, and it isn’t clear as to why his life was taken.
“You spend a lot of time with somebody when you’re working with them for eight hours a day,” said Brandi Mendoza, a friend and coworker of Saraya’s.
Mendoza and Jeff Aynes worked with Saraya for several years. He was an operations manager at Synergy HomeCare.
“Very about family, and very respectful of people’s family dynamics,” Aynes said. “He loved life, and he loved people.”
The 35-year-old Syrian American was killed in Syria last week, alongside his uncle, father and cousins. He had made the trip from Oklahoma City to see his father, who had become ill.
“No one is speaking about why this happened, why they weren’t’ protected, and why they were allowed to do this,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza told KOCO 5 that Saraya was a part of the Druze community and was in the Suwayda Province in southern Syria at the time of his death.
Aynes explained on a basic level what people in the Druze community believe.
“They are on the very peaceful side of the Islamic religion, and I think the others are on the extremist side,” Aynes said.
Mendoza said she’s been in touch with some of Saraya’s family members, and she told KOCO 5 about the group that carried out the execution of the man, and his family is known as HTS, or Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. She said they kidnapped the men before they were killed.
The group took over Damascus in late 2024.
“The leader was former al-Qaeda, and these people were actually supposed to protect the citizens of Syria,” Mendoza said.
Even though Saraya is gone, both Mendoza and Aynes know the life he lived; light-hearted, genuine and to the absolute fullest.
“He didn’t want you to ever have regrets, he always wanted you to move forward, and he doesn’t want us to dwell on his death,” Mendoza said.
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