Funding Operations and Fueling Resentment in War-Torn Gaza

Hamas is utilizing a hidden reserve of funds to continue paying its government officials, even amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Reports indicate that the group has disbursed approximately $7 million to cover the salaries of 30,000 civil servants since the start of the Israeli military operation. These employees, including police officers and tax officials, receive encrypted messages on their phones, directing them to a specific location at a designated time under the guise of a casual meeting. At the meeting point, an individual discreetly hands them money in an envelope before quickly departing. Despite Israel's efforts to dismantle Hamas's administrative and financial infrastructure, including the killing of its finance head, the organization persists in funding its operations within Gaza.

A senior Hamas employee revealed that the group had amassed approximately $700 million in cash and hundreds of millions of shekels in underground tunnels prior to the October 7, 2023 attack. Hamas has multiple income streams to sustain itself and its administration. Historically, they have levied substantial import duties and taxes on the Gaza population. They have also received significant financial support from Qatar. Iran has provided funding to Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades, and other Islamist groups have also contributed funds. A senior official from the banned Egypt-based Muslim Brotherhood stated that their organization sent around 10% of its budget to Hamas. The Palestinian militia continues to impose taxes on traders and has sold large quantities of cigarettes at inflated prices.

Furthermore, Hamas has ensured that its members and their families receive regular food parcels, while other residents struggle to avoid starvation. This disparity has generated significant resentment among ordinary Palestinians, who accuse the militia of discriminating against the wider population. One widow, Nisreen Khaled, expressed her frustration, stating that her children cried not only from hunger but also from witnessing their Hamas-affiliated neighbors receiving food parcels. She questioned why Hamas did not secure essential resources before initiating the October 7 attack.