The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released video footage that it claims shows Hamas operatives looting humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, escalating a war of narratives over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

According to the IDF, the footage—captured last Friday—shows armed Hamas gunmen atop a humanitarian aid truck, surrounded by crowds in a chaotic scene. The military asserts that these men are not security forces, as Hamas has claimed, but terrorists intercepting and stealing aid meant for Gaza’s civilian population.

“This is yet more evidence that Hamas is blocking vital humanitarian assistance from reaching the people who need it most,” the IDF said in a statement. “They are weaponizing aid, hijacking deliveries, and using lies to blame Israel for a starvation crisis they are actively perpetuating.”

However, The New York Times published a conflicting report, stating that there is currently “no proof” Hamas is systematically stealing aid. The report cited humanitarian officials who claimed that while looting by individuals has occurred in isolated cases, large-scale, organized theft by Hamas has not been independently verified.

The footage and its interpretation have reignited debate over the role of militant groups in the aid crisis, with international watchdogs and humanitarian organizations calling for more transparent distribution systems and independent monitoring.

The IDF’s latest claims also align with ongoing Israeli efforts to counter accusations of blockades and forced starvation, emphasizing instead that aid is entering Gaza but being hijacked or misused once it arrives.

Meanwhile, organizations like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the U.S. and Israel, have begun implementing direct-to-civilian aid channels to circumvent what they call "Hamas interference."

As the crisis deepens, narrative control and credibility are becoming as significant as military gains, with both sides seeking to shape international opinion.