A recent BBC investigation reveals that Hamas continues to pay salaries to tens of thousands of its members in Gaza, utilizing clandestine methods despite the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the region. The report corroborates long-standing Israeli assertions that the militant group is diverting and hoarding humanitarian aid, distributing it to loyalists while the broader Gazan population faces widespread hunger. As stated in a tweet by Aviva Klompas, "Hamas is still paying salaries to tens of thousands of members, even as ordinary Gazans go hungry."
The BBC's findings indicate that approximately 30,000 "civil servants" affiliated with Hamas are receiving payments, typically around 20% of their pre-war salaries every ten weeks. These transactions are executed through encrypted messages and discreet cash handoffs, a dangerous process for recipients given Israel's targeting of salary distributors. Some recipients reported receiving their payments in worn, low-value bills, highlighting the challenges of the system.
Hamas has reportedly maintained its financial operations by leveraging a secret $700 million cash stockpile accumulated before the October 7 conflict, according to a senior Hamas source cited by the BBC. The group also generates revenue by taxing local traders and selling essential goods, such as cigarettes, at exorbitant prices, sometimes up to 100 times their pre-war cost. These funds are critical for sustaining its network amid ongoing conflict.
The report reinforces claims that Hamas has systematically commandeered humanitarian aid entering the Strip, selling it on the black market or distributing it exclusively to its supporters. This practice has fueled significant public anger among Gazans, with many residents accusing Hamas of prioritizing its members over the starving population. One Gazan widow told the BBC her children cried watching Hamas-affiliated neighbors receive food parcels while they went hungry.
Conversely, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, Jamie McGoldrick, stated that the UN has "no evidence that Hamas is systematically diverting aid," acknowledging only "isolated incidents" of looting by desperate individuals or criminal gangs. However, the UN recently admitted that a high percentage, up to 88%, of aid trucks did not reach their intended destinations due to general looting.
The broader humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting catastrophic levels of food insecurity and imminent famine, particularly in northern governorates. Over 1.7 million people, more than 75% of Gaza's population, are internally displaced, and the healthcare system is largely non-functional. The ongoing distribution of aid continues to face significant challenges amidst these conditions.