Israel confirms Hamas kidnapped humanitarian aid workers

Israel confirmed on Thursday morning that Hamas kidnapped humanitarian aid workers during an overnight attack on a convoy near Khan Yunis.

“Hamas murdered five humanitarian workers from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation with others being kidnapped,” tweeted Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). “No UN statement. No calls for investigation. No outrage. The international community can not ignore Hamas’s crimes against humanitarian workers.”

COGAT is a military unit that coordinates civilian issues in Judea, Samaria and Gaza between the Israeli government, military, international organizations and the Palestinian Authority.

“Do humanitarian lives only matter when they wear a UN badge?” the tweet added.

Hamas attacked a Gaza aid convoy near Khan Yunis, killing at least five staff members from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), injuring others. The GHF and COGAT did not indicate how many aid workers abducted.

The U.S.- and Israeli-backed GHF described the attack as deliberate and unprovoked. “We are still gathering facts, but what we know is devastating: there are at least five fatalities, multiple injuries, and fear that some of our team members may have been taken hostage,” the organization said.

The GHF has come under repeated threats from Hamas, according to its leadership, particularly over its independent aid delivery model that bypasses Hamas-controlled channels. “This attack did not happen in a vacuum. For days, Hamas has openly threatened our team, our aid workers, and the civilians who receive aid from us. These threats were met with silence,” the organization stated.

Hamas-affiliated social media accounts claimed responsibility for a Wednesday night assault, saying it targeted members of the Abu Shabab clan — a family alleged to have cooperated with Israeli initiatives. However, the Abu Shabab clan itself denied the claim, stating that its members were not involved in the incident and condemning the violence.

“This was not a clash between rival factions. These were aid workers. Humanitarians. Fathers, brothers, sons, and friends who were risking their lives every day to help others,” said a GHF spokesperson. “Tonight, the world must see this for what it is: an attack on humanity.”

Hamas has been firing on Palestinians making their way to distribution centers, and residents of the Strip accuse the terror group of violence to deliberately disrupt the aid.

Israel has rejected claims it soldiers were responsible for the deadly gunfire, though it confirms firing warning shots at individuals straying from pre-approved access paths on several occasions.

“Despite this heinous attack, we will continue our mission to provide critical aid to the people of Gaza,” the GHF said. “We call on the international community to immediately condemn Hamas for this unprovoked attack and continued threat against our people simply trying to feed the Palestinian people.”

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 53 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead.