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The Unveiling of Hamas’ Wealth: A History of Corruption and Contradictions
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In the past few weeks, Israeli troops engaged in intense battles with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, specifically targeting the southern city of Khan Younis. As was recently reported by Fox News, the conflict has unveiled not only large caches of munitions and intricate tunnel networks but also the opulent residential complexes that housed some of Hamas’ top leaders. The luxurious lifestyle of these leaders, juxtaposed with the grim reality of conflict, has come to light, raising questions about the funding sources and priorities of the terrorist organization, according to the FoxNews.com web site.
The organization, designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and Israel, has faced previous allegations of amassing wealth and power while its people suffer.
Colonel Elad Tzuri, the commander of the IDF’s 7th Brigade, revealed in a phone interview with Fox News Digital that the targeted neighborhood in Khan Younis was home to Hamas leaders and affluent individuals. This area, located roughly 2 miles from the Mediterranean coast, served as the birthplace of many high-ranking Hamas commanders, including Yahya Sinwar, the top leader in the strip.
Israeli soldiers, upon entering the homes of these Hamas leaders, discovered evidence of combat and weapons in every residence. As was noted in the FoxNews.com report, the neighborhood was described as “fancy” by Colonel Tzuri, who pointed out the vacation homes of other Hamas leaders. The deputy prime minister of Gaza was identified as one of the residents, residing in a large and luxurious house, the report on the FoxNews.com web site said. The discovery highlights a stark contrast between the extravagant lives of these leaders and the ongoing conflict in the region.
Israeli media footage showed that much of the neighborhood now lies in ruins, with deep craters resulting from Israeli airstrikes. Colonel Tzuri reported that tunnel shafts were found in nearly every location, emphasizing the extensive infrastructure maintained by Hamas. FoxNews.com also reported that the revelation prompts questions about the allocation of resources, with Colonel Tzuri stating, “It looks like all of Hamas’ money goes either to their leaders or to terror.”
The IDF recently placed a collective $1 million bounty on the heads of four prominent Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Rafa’a Salameh, as was reported by FoxNews.com. These leaders are considered the most wanted by Israeli authorities, with the IDF branding them as responsible for orchestrating terror activities.
Michael Nahum, the chief operating officer of the Center for Peace Communications, characterized the lavish homes in Khan Younis as belonging to Hamas stalwarts and their families. According to the information provided in the FoxNews.com report, he highlighted the long-standing issue of corruption within Hamas’ leadership, suggesting that their affluent lifestyles have been an open secret for years. This revelation adds another layer to the complexities of the ongoing conflict and raises questions about the priorities of the organization’s leadership.
Hamas leaders wasted no time in building their power and accumulating wealth after seizing control of the Palestinian enclave in 2007 through a violent coup that ousted members of the rival Fatah political party. Nahum points out that the influential Moaz Haniyeh, son of Hamas political bureau chairman Isma’il Haniyeh, earned the nickname “Abu al-Aqarat” or “Father of Properties” due to his extensive real estate holdings in Gaza, facilitated by his father’s influence, as was noted in the FoxNews.com report. Isma’il Haniyeh, who resides in Qatar, is rumored to be worth billions.
Faced with isolation as a designated terror organization, Hamas initiated the construction of a network of smuggling tunnels under its southern border with Egypt. As was reported by FoxNews.com, by the year 2012, these tunnels were reportedly transferring over half a billion dollars in goods annually, and Hamas imposed “import duties” exceeding 14.5%. Nahum highlights that smugglers faced the choice of paying these fees or facing violent repercussions, such as being “shot in the legs.” The report on the FoxNews.com web site also said that this practice, combined with the imposition of various taxes on the people of Gaza, enabled Hamas to fund an opaque budget, the purpose of which remains largely undisclosed.
A 2022 report by The Associated Press pointed out that Hamas imposed taxes on its people without offering significant services in return. As was indicated in the report on the FoxNews.com web site, most aid and relief projects in Gaza were covered by the international community, leaving questions about the utilization of the funds collected by the organization. The contradiction between the opulent lifestyles of Hamas leaders and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza becomes more apparent.
In a recent interview with Russia Today’s Arabic channel, prominent Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk admitted that the group, effectively governing the Gaza Strip, does not consider itself responsible for civilians, FoxNews.com reported. Marzouk argued that the United Nations and the occupation (referring to Israel) should be accountable for providing services to the population, despite the complexities of living under occupation.
Khaled Hassan, a political risk and intelligence analyst, has characterized Hamas’ leadership and middle-rank terrorists as running a governance system resembling a mafia. The FoxNews.com report said that despite their attacks on Egypt’s military, police, and civilians, they demanded that the Egyptian government refrain from flooding their smuggling tunnels. This paradoxical behavior underscores the complex nature of Hamas’ interactions with neighboring nations.
Hassan further highlighted disturbing practices within Hamas, such as forcing Palestinian women to marry their rapists. The organization has been accused of regularly seizing property and businesses by force, as well as engaging in brutal attacks, mutilations, and murders of Palestinian political opponents, according to the information in the FoxNews.com report. These actions stand in stark contrast to the image Hamas tries to portray, claiming a moral high ground in the ongoing conflict.
In recent weeks, the IDF has shared documentation and footage showcasing its discoveries in various locations throughout Gaza, with a focus on Khan Younis. The FoxNews.com report said that in the home of a senior Hamas commander, soldiers uncovered suitcases containing the shekel equivalent of approximately $1.5 million in cash. Shockingly, weapons were found concealed in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) incubators in a hospital in northern Gaza, emphasizing the ruthless tactics employed by Hamas, according to the report.
The most significant revelation has been the extensive tunnel network discovered beneath major urban areas, equipped with elevators, electricity, ventilation, and heavy iron blast doors, FoxNews.com reported. Particularly in central Gaza City, below Hamas’ headquarters, these tunnels were stocked with provisions such as food, water, and other essentials, allowing for prolonged stays underground, the report added. The IDF also presented evidence suggesting that senior Hamas officials, including Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Deif, utilized this network. Footage from Hamas’ archives even showed Mohammed Sinwar driving a car through an underground cavern.
As more details emerge about Hamas’ terror infrastructure, experts estimate that the group invested billions of dollars in procuring weapons, including rockets fired daily at major population centers in Israel, FoxNews.com reported. The elaborate subterranean system, where Hamas leaders continue to hide, underscores the organization’s strategic and financial commitment to its ongoing conflict with Israel.
The ongoing revelations surrounding Hamas’ governance tactics and infrastructure expose a dark underbelly of the organization. From mafia-like rule to the construction of elaborate tunnels, Hamas’ actions contradict the image it attempts to project on the global stage. Meanwhile, the IDF’s efforts to unveil these activities underscore the complexity of the conflict and the challenges faced by those seeking to address the root causes of the ongoing violence in the region.
