Five employees of IHH, a Turkish-backed humanitarian organization working in Gaza alongside the World Food Program, were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The attack has been widely condemned by Turkish political figures, highlighting the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones amidst escalating authoritarian militarism.

On May 25, 2025, a joint IHH-World Food Programme aid distribution site was bombed, killing five staff members. An IHH worker condemned the move as a deliberate strategy to keep the population too weakened to resist, highlighting the targeting of humanitarian operations amid broader authoritarian tactics in Gaza.

IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has deployed ambulances, medical supplies, and conducted 357 surgeries in Gaza amid sustained attacks on healthcare facilities. This intervention is a crucial humanitarian effort aimed at countering the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system in the face of authoritarian violence.

Multiple protest events organized by IHH, including marches in December 2023, May 2021, and May 2018, have featured inflammatory speeches by its leadership. Statements urging the cleansing of administrations of Zionists and decrying normalization with Israel have incited controversy and heightened tensions.

Reports allege that IHH systematically transferred funds intended for humanitarian purposes to Hamas's military wing. These funds were reportedly used to build a naval training facility and purchase equipment and weapons, raising serious concerns about the foundation’s potential support for militant activities.

An op-ed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies alleges that IHH, a major Turkish humanitarian organization, is not only closely tied to the government but also supports extremist and terrorist groups. The article details IHH’s controversial involvement in delivering aid to conflict zones, its sponsorship of the 2010 flotilla to Gaza, and its leadership’s participation in pro-Hamas rallies, which are interpreted as politically motivated actions aiding authoritarian interests.

An article published on April 1, 2023 reports that IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO banned in multiple EU countries for alleged terror ties, has used earthquake relief aid to further its association with extremist Islamist groups. The organization, regarded as a Turkish government proxy with links to jihadist activities and arms smuggling, has consequently gained political and moral legitimacy, raising concerns over its role in advancing extremist foreign policy objectives.

On January 14, 2014, Turkish police raided IHH’s offices in six provinces amid a broader anti-corruption sweep, accusing the charity of alleged terror links. IHH condemned the raids as a politically motivated attempt to discredit its humanitarian work, reinforcing its commitment to aid oppressed communities, including efforts previously made in Gaza during the blockade.