‘Gaza is Humiliated’: Hamas Struggling to Pay Wages as Protests Erupt Again in Gaza

Latest Developments

Hamas Unable to Pay Fighters: Hamas is reportedly struggling to pay the wages of its operatives in Gaza due to Israel’s targeted strikes against its terrorists and the cutoff of humanitarian supplies to the coastal enclave — resources the group seizes and sells to raise funds. During the Ramadan holiday, the Iran-backed terror group cut salary payments entirely for many government employees in Gaza and halved the pay of senior Hamas fighters and members of its political bureau. Since the IDF resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, it has conducted over 100 targeted eliminations, including the April 4 killing of Saeed Ahmad Abed Khudari, accused of transferring significant funds to Hamas throughout the war, along with many high-ranking political officials.
Anti-Hamas Protests Reemerge: Anti-Hamas protests resumed in the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahia on April 16. Demonstrators took to the streets chanting slogans such as “Yes to unity, no to terror,” “We want to live in peace,” and “Gaza is humiliated.” The march through the war-torn enclave, which gathered hundreds of participants, marked the first public display of defiance against the Iran-backed terrorist organization since April 7.
Aide to Hamas Brigade Commander Eliminated: The IDF confirmed this week that it had eliminated Mahmud Ibrahim Hasan Abu Hisirah, an aide to the commander of Hamas’s Gaza Brigade and a veteran Nukhba unit terrorist. Abu Hisirah was also part of a Hamas cell that infiltrated Israel in 2014 through a tunnel under the Gaza border and attacked an IDF pillbox near Nahal Oz, killing five Israeli soldiers.

FDD Expert Response

“Eighteen months after the worst massacre in Israel’s history, Hamas is being systematically dismantled. A rare opportunity has emerged to finish the job: to wipe out this gang of rapists and murderers once and for all. More Gazans are waking up to the reality that their future is shackled to Hamas’s rule. If the world truly wants this war to end, it must help accelerate Hamas’s downfall — not rescue it.” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“Although Israel has eliminated numerous Hamas commanders and dismantled much of the group’s infrastructure, these actions have not been sufficient to compel the Islamist organization to agree to a ceasefire that would result in its removal from power. Like any organization, Hamas depends on financial resources to sustain its operations. Severely restricting its ability to pay fighters and fund its activities significantly undermines its operational capacity. At this stage of the conflict, Israel should prioritize dismantling Hamas’s financial apparatus over the continued targeting of foot soldiers and field commanders. This strategy is more likely to pressure Hamas into accepting a ceasefire that would effectively end its rule in the Gaza Strip.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The protests in Beit Lahia have erupted as Hamas continues to reject ceasefire deals —exposing the myth of widespread support the group and its propagandists have pushed for over the past 18 months. Whether these demonstrations will bring real change remains to be seen, but they make one thing clear: Hamas is fighting to hold onto its weapons, even at the expense of Gaza’s civilians.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst