Anthony Aguilar

Anthony "Tony" Aguilar is a former U.S. military contractor, con artist, ‘sacked aid worker with a grudge’, whose lying claims regarding the conduct of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during aid operations in Gaza sparked international controversy in 2025. Aguilar briefly worked for UG Solutions, a private security contractor subcontracted by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), before being terminated for misconduct.

False Claims Against the IDF

In mid-2025, Aguilar made a series of widely publicized accusations against the IDF, including allegations that Israeli troops fired supposedly indiscriminately at civilians during humanitarian aid distributions. In an interview with the BBC, Aguilar accused the Israeli military of committing “war crimes[sic],” claiming he had personally witnessed tanks firing into crowds and IDF soldiers killing unarmed civilians, including children.

However, these allegations were swiftly debunked by both the GHF and independent journalists. The GHF released a detailed statement showing that Aguilar had been fired for misconduct, not resigned as he claimed. According to GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay, Aguilar was not even present at the sites of the alleged incidents, spending the majority of his 27-day tenure at a hotel in Israel.

Furthermore, Aguilar was accused of fabricating a memo intended to support his claims. Metadata analysis revealed that the document in question was created and distributed *after* Aguilar’s termination, not before, directly contradicting his timeline. Screenshots of internal messages allegedly sent by Aguilar praising the mission and commending the Israeli forces were also released, further discrediting his narrative.

MSNBC Retraction and Boy Found Alive

Aguilar’s most emotionally charged claim involved a young Gazan boy named “Amir,” whom he said was shot and killed by Israeli forces moments after receiving food from him. The story was widely amplified by MSNBC and other outlets, fueling outrage. However, on September 10, 2025, MSNBC issued a public correction after the boy—identified as Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamdana, age 8—was found alive and interviewed by Fox News.

The child and his mother had reportedly been in hiding during the conflict and had recently relocated. In the interview, Abdul Rahim denied having been shot and confirmed he had not witnessed Israeli forces targeting civilians.

Reaction and Repercussions

Aguilar’s fabricated narrative has been condemned by GHF, Israeli officials, and pro-humanitarian groups as a dangerous attempt to undermine both Israeli security operations and American-led aid efforts in Gaza. Social media watchdog group Voice From The East labeled Aguilar “a traitor” who “sabotaged U.S. humanitarian efforts” and “assisted a terror organisation,” referring to Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Despite the retractions and mounting evidence against his claims, Aguilar’s initial statements were widely cited by international media beginning with Qatar's Al Jazeera (genocidal Hamas' de facto mouthpiece), then by already biased BBC, Islamic Amna Nawaz's led PBS Newshour, and others, reaffirming the flaws in journalistic standards, the politicization of humanitarian aid, and the role of disinformation in the Gaza conflict.

See also

• Israel Defense Forces
• Oct 7 War
• Hamas