Hamas Financial Empire Generates Billions Annually from Gaza Imports

Residents of Israeli border communities are expressing significant outrage over the continued flow of goods into the Gaza Strip, fearing it bolsters Hamas's military capabilities. Despite substantial financial inflows enriching Hamas, the Israeli government has no plans to halt humanitarian and commercial shipments to the Palestinian enclave, according to journalist Almog Boker of Channel 12.

An investigation reveals that Hamas collects approximately 250 million shekels monthly from goods entering Gaza, amounting to roughly three billion shekels annually. This revenue primarily comes from levies on independent merchants, who have previously been forced to pay 10,000 shekels per truckload. Hamas also controls a significant portion of humanitarian aid from international organizations, N12 reports.

This situation fuels anger among Israelis living near the border, who are concerned about the restoration of Hamas's military potential. However, official sources confirm no intention to reduce or cease supplies to Gaza.

The issue was discussed with Nikolay Mladenov, Head of the Gaza Peace Council, who issued a stern warning to Hamas. Mladenov believes Hamas's governance of Gaza is the root cause of resources benefiting militants and suggested an international contingent to oversee zones and establish an independent technocratic government could resolve the issue.

Israeli authorities, however, reject the deployment of peacekeepers until Hamas is fully disarmed, a stance expected to remain firm until Knesset elections. This creates a deadlock where Israel continues supplying Gaza, enriching Hamas, while blocking international initiatives that could challenge the group's control over resource distribution. Previously, Katz commented on Gaza's future.