Hamas Nets Billions Annually From Gaza Aid and Goods
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Hamas is reportedly earning approximately 3 billion shekels annually by taxing humanitarian aid and commercial goods entering Gaza, according to Israeli reports. Despite concerns about Hamas using these funds to rebuild its military, Israel plans to continue allowing supplies into the Strip. International efforts, led by Nikolay Mladenov, to introduce international forces to control goods distribution have been met with Israeli reluctance pending Hamas's disarmament.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hamas reportedly earns 3 billion shekels annually from taxes on Gaza's aid and commercial goods.
- Israel will not restrict humanitarian aid or commercial supplies to Gaza.
- Hamas taxes merchants 10,000 shekels per truck of imported goods.
- UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov warned Hamas that the situation is unsustainable.
- Israel opposes international forces in Gaza until Hamas is disarmed.
Israel will not restrict the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into the Gaza Strip, despite Hamas using these supplies to fund its operations and rebuild its military capabilities. According to journalist Almog Boker writing for Israel's Channel 12, Hamas generates approximately 250 million shekels monthly from goods entering Gaza. This revenue primarily comes from taxes the organization levies on local merchants importing goods through the private sector, leading to an estimated annual income of three billion shekels for Hamas.
This situation has caused concern among residents of Israeli border communities, who fear Hamas's rearmament. Despite these fears, an Israeli source told Channel 12 that the government is not considering halting or reducing supplies to Gaza, including those entering via the private sector. The issue was also discussed with Nikolay Mladenov, who heads the UN's peace efforts for Gaza.
Mladenov reportedly issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating the current situation is unsustainable. He identified Hamas's continued control over Gaza as the core problem, arguing that regardless of the volume of goods entering, Hamas will continue to seize them and profit. Mladenov suggested that introducing international forces to control specific areas could be a solution, potentially paving the way for a technocratic government not affiliated with Hamas.
However, Israel remains unwilling to agree to the deployment of international forces until Hamas is disarmed. This stance is expected to persist at least until the upcoming Knesset elections. Consequently, Israel continues to allow supplies that provide Hamas with substantial income, while rejecting proposed international mechanisms that could strip the organization of its control over goods distribution.
