Israel is struggling to pay its fighters and government employees in Hamas Gaza, with Tightening the restrictions and targeting prominent operators, according to a Wall Street Journal Report,
Last month, Israel stopped the entry of human goods into the enclave. According to Arabia, Israel and Western officials, Hamas was removing some of these supply and selling them to raise money.
Israeli aerial attacks have also been killed or forced to hide several Hamas officers responsible for distributing cash.
The result was a serious financial squeeze. According to sources in Arab Intelligence, most of the Gaza government employees have not been paid, and Hamas fighters are now getting only half a normal monthly salary – around $ 200 -$ 300.
“Even though they sit on a large amount of cash, their ability to distribute it would be very limited,” said Ail, a researcher who monitors Gaza’s economy. Traditional methods such as courier or distribution points are now easily targeted by Israeli forces.
Before the war, Hamas used to get $ 15 million per month from Qatar. It also raised funds from abroad – including West Africa, South Asia and UK – with an estimated $ 500 million stockpiles, most of it was held in Turkey. But the war changed it.
After October 2023, Israel exploded the physical movement of cash in Gaza. Hamas then tapped into local banks and used humanitarian and commercial supply routes to create new income sections – taxing traders, collecting customs and re -starting assistance goods. Those routes were shut down again in March, the crisis deteriorated.
“Hamas has a big crisis in the matter of getting money in Gaza, a lawyer and Hamas critic Moumen al-Natour.” “They were mainly dependent on human assistance sold in black markets for cash.”
During a brief ceasefire earlier this year, Hamas distributed salaries in cash or goods through certain points. In March, after Israel started the strike, the group switched to the informal handoff – slowing the payment and weakening the internal unity.
The lack is barely killing citizens. With the main currency of Shekel Gaza, people now face serious obstacles to buy food or medicine. Gaza has not received fresh currency in 18 months. Most banks and ATMs have been destroyed.
To cope, some ghazans now rely on the money sent from relatives abroad. Officials say that converting digital payments into cash comes at cost – more than 20 percent in commission, officials say. Even “money repair” shops have increased, where torn and worn bills are patches with tape and reuse.
Help groups warned that Israeli blockade could cause starvation in Gaza. Israeli officials argue that Hamas’s grip weakens by cutting aid. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katj said that instead there is a plan to provide assistance through civil channels.
Experts estimate that around $ 3 billion cash can still be broadcast in Gaza, but it is almost impossible to achieve access to it.