As attacks near humanitarian distribution sites continue, think tank accuses UN, MSM, and Hamas of ‘targeted assault’ on GHF

Hamas, the United Nations, and international media outlets collaborated to portray the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as “a source of chaos, deception, and complicity in violence” claims a report by a non-partisan think tank that analyzes extremism online. 

The report, published on July 15 by the Network Contagion Research Institute, says that within days of the GHF completing its first meal deliveries, “it became the target of a deliberate narrative assault, driven less by verifiable facts than by the demands of a competing narrative.” 

“Reports and evidence of violence at aid sites began to surface, and international and U.S. media outlets, social media influencers, and NGOs started publishing articles that ascribed blame to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) or GHF for intentional violence against civilians, war crimes, and complicity in the crime of genocide,” the report continues. 

It noted that evidence for IDF involvement in the shootings “was usually sourced from Hamas-run ministries or anonymous accounts, and often unverified.” 

Hamas and the UN speak in unison to condemn the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. That should tell you all you need to know. https://t.co/odYd9K9d0l

— Rɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ Kᴇᴍᴘ ⋁ (@COLRICHARDKEMP) July 12, 2025

Worse still, the report noted “evidence that Hamas could be responsible for violence around aid sites – evidence provided by non-Hamas Palestinian sources, by Hamas’s online communications, and by video that in some cases shows Hamas operatives deliberately firing on Palestinian civilians – was almost never suggested” in those international media reports. 

The Institute also stated that headlines from mainstream media outlets “elevated one side of the story – the side promoted by a designated foreign terrorist organization.” These stories were often published before “waiting for forensic clarity and countervailing evidence.” 

Among the key findings were that: 

• Mainstream media spread hostile, and often unverified, narratives delegitimizing U.S.-backed humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza. 

• Major media headlines cited Hamas-linked officials more than any other source – making a foreign terrorist organization one of the leading voices shaping news about GHF. 

• Unverified headlines triggered viral, conspiratorial social media posts, often amplified by foreign state media. 

• The GHF’s competitors amplified Hamas-sourced claims to undermine U.S.-led aid efforts. 

The institute noted that the Gaza Health Ministry should not be considered a “politically neutral source” in such reporting due to its status as a Hamas entity. 

“The Gaza Health Ministry itself is run by Hamas and for that reason alone cannot be quoted as a politically neutral source for answering questions of culpability or fact,” it said. 

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the IDF, and even former British Army Colonel Richard Kemp, have published videos showing the distribution sites, including on days in which IDF shooting of civilians was alleged to have taken place, in which Gazans can be seen peacefully receiving humanitarian aid at GHF distribution sites.  

Want the truth about the humanitarian aid in Gaza? Watch @LTC_Shoshani near an aid distribution site in Gaza: pic.twitter.com/I6tB1Lk0ih

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 15, 2025

This triggered so many Hamas supporters so they can have it again. I know about the gunfire so don’t bother telling me. It was distant, nothing to do with the aid site, no-one even flinched. I could have edited it out but I want to show the reality not usual media distortions. pic.twitter.com/6hC4wL4HE9

— Rɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ Kᴇᴍᴘ ⋁ (@COLRICHARDKEMP) June 30, 2025

On Wednesday morning, GHF reported that around 20 Palestinians were killed at one of its distribution sites in Khan Younis when crowds became agitated, blaming Hamas for inciting violence. 

“We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd – armed and affiliated with Hamas – deliberately fomented the unrest,” the GHF said in a statement. It noted that this is the first time the Foundation has seen weapons in the crowds. 

The GHF said 20 Palestinians were killed this morning in a crush at an aid distribution site in Khan Younis, blaming armed agitators linked to Hamas for fomenting unrest.

The Israeli- and U.S.-backed group said 19 people were trampled to death and one person was stabbed “amid a chaotic and dangerous surge, driven by agitators in the crowd.”

“We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd – armed and affiliated with Hamas – deliberately fomented the unrest,” the GHF stated, adding that for the first time since operations began, multiple firearms had been identified in the crowd.

“This horrific event follows a deeply troubling pattern in recent days. False messages about aid site openings, including at SDS4 (Wadi Gaza) and the long-closed SDS1 (Tal Sultan), have circulated widely on Telegram and other platforms, fueling confusion, driving crowds to closed sites, and inciting disorder,” the GFH said. 

The incident occurred just days after aid workers from the foundation were attacked with grenades in an incident widely attributed to the Hamas terror group. It also comes around two weeks after Hamas attacked and killed 12 Palestinian aid workers of the GHF.