The secret system Hamas uses to pay government salaries
17 days ago
- #Gaza
- #Hamas
- #War Economy
- Hamas continues to pay 30,000 civil servants $7m in salaries despite war damage.
- Employees receive encrypted messages to collect cash in secret, risky operations.
- Salaries are only 20% of pre-war amounts, paid every 10 weeks.
- Cash payments are made in worn-out banknotes, often unusable.
- Hamas stockpiled $700m in cash and shekels in tunnels before the war.
- Funding sources include taxes, Qatar, Iran, and the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Hamas levies war taxes on traders and sells cigarettes at inflated prices.
- Food aid is allegedly distributed only to Hamas supporters, causing public anger.
- Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid during ceasefires, which Hamas denies.