Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and parallel security operations in the West Bank have disrupted Hamas’s ability to pay full salaries across both its civil administration and armed operatives, according to a report by the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat cited by The Jerusalem Post.
Asharq Al-Awsat said Israeli raids on West Bank currency exchange companies used by Hamas and other groups to move money were among the most effective steps in “drying up” Hamas finances. The Hamas still retains the capacity to pay many operatives partially, but that payments have become less regular and, in some cases, reduced.
What the report says about Hamas cashflow
Asharq Al-Awsat said Hamas relies on a mix of commercial activity in and outside Gaza and external backing, including funding it attributed to Iran, which it said can fluctuate or arrive late. The report said Hamas is facing increasing difficulty transferring and delivering funds into Gaza, pushing those responsible for salaries to rely on accessible cash reserves and self-generated commercial sources.
The report said Hamas has resumed partial payments to members including leaders and fighters in its Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, while paying lower rates to its social and preaching apparatus and other bodies. It said payments have sometimes been delayed by six weeks to two months, and that rates vary by category, with some government employees described as receiving a reduced share of salaries.
What the report says about Israeli financial pressure tactics
Asharq Al-Awsat said Israel sought to degrade Hamas’s financial network during the war by targeting figures responsible for moving money inside Gaza and by raiding currency exchange companies in the West Bank that Israeli authorities said were linked to Palestinian factions. The report described the exchange-company raids as a key mechanism for constraining access to funds.
Asharq Al-Awsat also said Israel has accused Iran of backing what it described as a banking network moving funds to Hamas through money changers connected to Gaza and operating from Türkiye, and said Hamas sources rejected Israel’s claims as baseless.
What is known and what is not
The reporting is based on accounts Asharq Al-Awsat said it obtained from field sources and Hamas officials, and it does not include independent documentation for all claims about funding flows, payment rates, or specific transfer mechanisms.
Even so, the report provides a detailed snapshot of how Hamas sources describe keeping payroll moving under pressure, including reliance on manual cash delivery networks to avoid monitoring of electronic channels.
