In the face of growing global calls to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, recently reviewed UN data indicates a profound shortfall in delivering aid successfully.

Just 19 percent of all humanitarian trucks have successfully entered the region since mid–May.

The condition is direr for the United Nations World Food Program, where a mere 2 percent of its aid trucks have managed to reach their designated locations. Most are either seized by desperate Palestinians or fall prey to armed groups’ plundering.

In September, only two of their trucks arrived, as 1,369 were blocked.

But a US official familiar with the UN’s tracking of aid tells the Daily Mail that the body’s data is flawed.

‘Their narrative – that no aid is making it into Gaza – is misleading,’ the US official says.

An insider from the State Department, familiar with these operations, informed Daily Mail that numerous trucks are looted by Hamas and gang networks, citing ‘compelling’ video evidence.

Although the UN has not openly attributed the looting to terrorist factions, it has criticized the US for its lack of support in aiding these relief efforts.

A State Department official says its the UN model for aid that’s ‘not working.’

‘Clunky,’ is how another US aid official describes it. 

Another White House source involved closely with Middle East affairs called it ‘insane.’

Israelis contend they’ve tried to coordinate delivery routes with the UN only to be castigated publicly. ‘The UN would turn around and eviscerate Israel in a press release. How do you build trust that way?’ the source said.

The IDF claims footage shows Hamas terrorists on top of trucks looting humanitarian aid in Gaza, calling Hamas the ‘primary obstacle’ to helping residents. But a New York Times report noted Israeli military sources haven’t found concrete evidence directly linking Hamas.

‘The more you scratch the surface, the more it is clear that it is Hamas interference… then they would have to condemn Hamas publicly, but you would never see them do that,’ a senior administration official told Daily Mail.

The controversy has fed into the Trump administration’s push for a new system. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US-backed initiative — delivers aid through vetted local NGOs and private contractors, bypassing the United Nations.

In contrast to UN figures, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation publishes its own daily operational updates showing large-scale food distributions. 

For example, by late June, GHF had distributed over 50 million meals. As of early September, GHF reported nearly 152 million meals delivered through its distribution sites. 

But the approach has turned deadly. According to the UN Human Rights Office, more than 1,000 people have been killed in recent weeks trying to reach aid at Israeli-coordinated distribution points. The UN argues Gazans must walk dangerous distances to access the aid.

The USAID inspector general in July 2024 found that the US had problems vetting UN personnel for terrorist ties and issues related to the misuse of funds. 

Although the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was officially registered this year, a former Trump administration official says the project originated under the Biden administration but was abandoned due to ‘bureaucratic incompetence.’

An official said the State Department is now investigating the UN program to provide aid to Palestinians for its Hamas ties.

Back in late July, in comments to reporters on Air Force One, Trump criticized the UN along with current aid routes, saying they are susceptible to theft by Hamas.

‘They send money. They send food. And Hamas steals it,’ the president said. 

The president also expressed frustration with the UN, saying the body isn’t living up to its potential in his address to the body last month. 

The US official who worked on aid delivery says for people trapped in Gaza, the debate over politics and turf wars means little –– what matters is whether help actually arrives.

The United Nations and UNRWA did not respond to requests for comment.