Netanyahu: Hamas Controls Gaza Aid, Not the People

ISRAEL — In a revealing segment on the "Full Send" podcast with the Nelk Boys, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shed light on the complex situation surrounding humanitarian aid in Gaza—particularly food distribution, and how it is manipulated by Hamas, not the civilians of Gaza.

During the conversation, Netanyahu responded to questions about food shortages and aid restrictions in Gaza by emphasizing that Israel does not target civilians, and that much of the suffering seen on the ground is a direct result of Hamas exploiting humanitarian aid for terror purposes.

“We allow food to go in. We allow water to go in. We allow medicine to go in,” Netanyahu told the hosts. “But Hamas hijacks it. They steal it. They don’t give it to the people.”

He pointed to documented cases where Hamas fighters seize convoys, hoard supplies for themselves, or resell basic goods at inflated prices—all while continuing to launch attacks on Israel from densely populated civilian areas. According to Netanyahu, this strategy is designed to weaponize humanitarian suffering, using it to generate global sympathy and vilify Israel in the international press.

Netanyahu also challenged the notion that the people of Gaza are in control of their destiny under current leadership. “If Gaza was led by peaceful people, they’d be thriving,” he said. “But Hamas has built tunnels, not schools. Rockets, not roads.”

He reaffirmed that Israel’s war is against Hamas—not the Palestinian population, and that ending the cycle of violence will require removing the terror group’s grip on Gaza.

The podcast appearance, aimed at a wide and youthful Western audience, allowed Netanyahu to deliver his message unfiltered, outside of traditional media environments where he says nuance is often lost or twisted.