Not yet convinced about the error of claiming that USAID earmarked $50 million for condoms in Gaza. It cannot be refuted with the simple statement:
"No money had been spent on condoms anywhere in the Middle East."
Because one of the links FP embedded in that story is from CNN, where they implicitly admitted (twice!) that actually no one can fact-check the claim for 2024 or 2025:
"Federal figures show that USAID condom aid totaled about $8 million worldwide in the 2023 fiscal year, the last year for which data is available."
"USAID had not provided any condom aid to the entire Middle East from the 2021 fiscal year through the 2023 fiscal year."
Put that together with Trump's claim that DOGE had cancelled *plans* to send such aid in the near future... also documented by CNN's link to his remarks.
This calls for more investigation about condom aid last year, in recent months, and projected shipments. Especially given that (as Trump also pointed out), in the past Hamas "used them as a method of making bombs".
Think like Hamas, folks!
With their missile stockpile, launchers, and replenishing routes destroyed, it's all too plausible that they made plans to return the booby-trap "balloons" they were using to torment Israelis in 2018-2020. They were primitive, but they burned thousands of acres of land and threatened populated areas with everything from burning rags to primed grenades. They also cynically scrawled birthday messages and "I [heart] you" on the condoms to resemble balloons -- so that young children would be tempted to pick them up.
J-Post reported (2020) that the terrorists quickly learned to "increase the range of their death toys by tying together multiple condoms... for added buoyancy." So I wouldn't put it past USAID to "aid" Hamas in continuing their "resistance" by sending huge shipments of condoms. You know... "by any means necessary."
AND given the l-o-n-g trail uncovered from USAID to Taliban -- which the UN tried to hide -- condom shipments could have been sent to intermediaries with instructions to forward them to Gaza.
"Total worldwide USAID condom spending is far less than $50 million: In the 2023 fiscal year, USAID provided or funded a global total of about $7.1 million worth of male condoms and about $1.1 million worth of female condoms, overwhelmingly to countries in Africa, according to the federal report. "
I repeat: No one at CNN was asking about USAID's actions in 2024.
And there is a good reason why journalists should be asking... Do a search for my comments in response to NJ Guy's link to the "USA Spending" data.
The missing $50M, and possibly more than that, began moving into Gaza in Sept. 2024, through the UN Population Fund (which specializes in birth control).
Why the Palestinians of Gaza, who constantly cry about ethnic cleansing at Israel's hands, would speed up their own demise by accepting contraceptives, is a very interesting riddle. (Hint: they found another use for condoms.)
Not yet convinced about the error of claiming that USAID earmarked $50 million for condoms in Gaza. It cannot be refuted with the simple statement:
"No money had been spent on condoms anywhere in the Middle East."
Because one of the links FP embedded in that story is from CNN, where they implicitly admitted (twice!) that actually no one can fact-check the claim for 2024 or 2025:
"Federal figures show that USAID condom aid totaled about $8 million worldwide in the 2023 fiscal year, the last year for which data is available."
"USAID had not provided any condom aid to the entire Middle East from the 2021 fiscal year through the 2023 fiscal year."
Put that together with Trump's claim that DOGE had cancelled *plans* to send such aid in the near future... also documented by CNN's link to his remarks.
This calls for more investigation about condom aid last year, in recent months, and projected shipments. Especially given that (as Trump also pointed out), in the past Hamas "used them as a method of making bombs".
Think like Hamas, folks!
With their missile stockpile, launchers, and replenishing routes destroyed, it's all too plausible that they made plans to return the booby-trap "balloons" they were using to torment Israelis in 2018-2020. They were primitive, but they burned thousands of acres of land and threatened populated areas with everything from burning rags to primed grenades. They also cynically scrawled birthday messages and "I [heart] you" on the condoms to resemble balloons -- so that young children would be tempted to pick them up.
J-Post reported (2020) that the terrorists quickly learned to "increase the range of their death toys by tying together multiple condoms... for added buoyancy." So I wouldn't put it past USAID to "aid" Hamas in continuing their "resistance" by sending huge shipments of condoms. You know... "by any means necessary."
AND given the l-o-n-g trail uncovered from USAID to Taliban -- which the UN tried to hide -- condom shipments could have been sent to intermediaries with instructions to forward them to Gaza.
Keep digging, FP!
Hannah, I posted info before reading your excellent comment. My post supports yours.
The USAID 2021 Report on Condoms and Lubricants
Far too often, River Page pieces are off-the-cuff and inaccurate. Is there no editor, no fact-checker at TFP?
https://www.ghsupplychain.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Final%202021%20Condoms%20and%20Lubricants%20Comprehensive%20Report_508_r1-revised.pdf
The condoms went to Madagascar.
From CNN
"Total worldwide USAID condom spending is far less than $50 million: In the 2023 fiscal year, USAID provided or funded a global total of about $7.1 million worth of male condoms and about $1.1 million worth of female condoms, overwhelmingly to countries in Africa, according to the federal report. "
Somehow I don't feel better.
Your source is CNN.
CNN is the most unreliable source in legacy media.
You passed along false information.
Why?
I repeat: No one at CNN was asking about USAID's actions in 2024.
And there is a good reason why journalists should be asking... Do a search for my comments in response to NJ Guy's link to the "USA Spending" data.
The missing $50M, and possibly more than that, began moving into Gaza in Sept. 2024, through the UN Population Fund (which specializes in birth control).
Why the Palestinians of Gaza, who constantly cry about ethnic cleansing at Israel's hands, would speed up their own demise by accepting contraceptives, is a very interesting riddle. (Hint: they found another use for condoms.)