A new report from a Jerusalem-based think tank alleges that dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the Gaza Strip are under the direct influence and surveillance of the Hamas terrorist group. The findings raise serious questions about the oversight of international aid, including funding from Canadian taxpayers.
Internal Hamas Documents Reveal Control Mechanism
The report, published by NGO Monitor on December 19, 2025, is based on internal Arabic-language documents obtained from Hamas's Gaza Interior Security Mechanism (ISM). These documents were reportedly seized by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, declassified, and made public.
According to the report, Hamas exercised control over more than 40 NGOs—excluding United Nations agencies—by installing "guarantors" within each organization. These individuals, the report claims, were placed to monitor and manipulate the NGOs' activities from within.
"They either had somebody that was already part of the Hamas network that was working for the organization, or they pushed their person into the organization," NGO Monitor founder Gerald Steinberg told the Toronto Sun. He criticized governments for "turning a blind eye" to these practices.
Canadian-Funded Organizations Named in Report
The report identifies three NGOs that have received significant funding from the Canadian government and were mentioned in the Hamas documents.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) received $3 million from Canada since February 2023. The report describes its listed guarantor as a Hamas supporter employed within the Gaza government.
Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) was granted $2 million earlier in 2025. Its guarantor was listed as "affiliated with the Hamas movement."
International Medical Corps (IMC) is receiving $20 million between July 2024 and December 2026. The report alleges it maintained ties with a guarantor described as a "supporter of Hamas" who holds rank as a Hamas officer.
All three organizations have strongly disputed the report's findings. IMC stated it investigated the claims and "found them all to be false." HI emphasized its neutrality and rigorous vetting procedures, while the NRC asserted that no armed group has ever controlled its governance or programs in Gaza.
Detailed Surveillance and Coercion Tactics
The Hamas documents reveal an extensive surveillance apparatus targeting NGO staff. A December 2022 document outlined plans to cultivate or coerce guarantors into becoming intelligence assets for the group.
The report includes specific allegations, such as Hamas confiscating "embarrassing photos" from an NRC official's phone. Another entry criticized a female employee of an Italian NGO for "leaves her house in exposed clothing that transgresses sharia law."
Additional monitoring focused on NGOs employing Jewish staff. A June 2020 memo expressed Hamas's concern over a Jewish public relations official working for OXFAM.
Canadian Government Response and Ongoing Concerns
In response to inquiries, Global Affairs Canada stated that the government maintains a strict "no-contact" policy with terrorist groups like Hamas. The department emphasized enhanced due diligence, ongoing oversight, and systematic screening for all international assistance funding.
"Canada only works with experienced humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving assistance," the statement read.
However, advocacy groups like the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) find the report's conclusions alarming. "The money the government is giving belongs to Canadians," said Becca Wertman-Traub, CIJA's director of research. "The government has the responsibility to ensure that money reaches people in need."
The report emerges amid broader allegations of Hamas diverting humanitarian aid. Recent social media footage and statements from Israeli officials have accused Hamas of stockpiling supplies like infant formula, allegedly to manipulate narratives about conditions in Gaza.
The NGO Monitor report underscores the complex challenges of delivering aid in conflict zones controlled by terrorist entities and calls for greater scrutiny of how donor funds are ultimately used on the ground.
