Gaza’s Struggle: The Hidden Costs of War and Aid Distribution Amidst Crisis

Gaza’s Struggle: Amidst War, Hamas Faces Internal Dissent as Aid Shortages Persist

By Rushdi Abualouf, Gaza Correspondent

Cairo, Egypt — Nearly two years into a devastating conflict, the situation in Gaza has reached a critical juncture. As Hamas grapples with a weakened military capability and mounting pressure on its political leadership, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, leaving many residents in dire straits.

Despite the ongoing war, Hamas has managed to maintain a secret cash-based payment system, disbursing salaries to approximately 30,000 civil servants. However, these payments, totaling around $7 million (£5.3 million), amount to a mere fraction of their pre-war earnings. Civil servants report receiving around $300 every ten weeks, a stark contrast to their previous salaries, leading to growing resentment among the ranks.

Amid soaring inflation, the situation is exacerbated by severe food shortages. Aid agencies attribute these shortages to Israeli restrictions, with the price of basic commodities skyrocketing. A kilogram of flour has recently reached an unprecedented $80, pushing families to the brink of starvation.

The complexities of receiving these meager salaries add to the stress. With no functioning banking system in Gaza, employees often receive encrypted messages instructing them to meet at specific locations under the guise of casual encounters. At these clandestine meetings, they receive sealed envelopes of cash, a process fraught with danger as Israeli forces frequently target salary distributors.

One civil servant, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, described the harrowing experience of collecting his wages. “Every time I go to pick up my salary, I say goodbye to my wife and children. I know that I may not return,” he recounted, recalling a close call during an Israeli strike.

The plight of families is palpable. Alaa, a schoolteacher and sole provider for his family of six, expressed frustration over receiving worn-out banknotes that are often rejected by local traders. “After two-and-a-half months of hunger, they pay us in tattered cash,” he lamented. “I’m often forced to go to aid distribution points in the hope of getting some flour to feed my children.”

The Israeli military’s recent actions have further complicated matters. The killing of Hamas’s finance chief, Ismail Barhoum, has raised questions about the group’s financial sustainability. Despite the destruction of much of its administrative infrastructure, a senior Hamas official revealed that the group had stockpiled approximately $700 million in cash before the conflict escalated.

Hamas has historically relied on heavy import duties and taxes on Gaza’s population, alongside financial support from Qatar and Iran. However, the ongoing war has prompted the group to levy additional taxes on traders and inflate prices on goods, including cigarettes, which have seen prices surge from $5 to over $170 per box.

Public anger is mounting as many residents accuse Hamas of prioritizing its supporters in aid distribution. Nisreen Khaled, a widow caring for three children, voiced her frustration: “When the hunger worsened, my children were crying not only from pain but also from watching our Hamas-affiliated neighbors receive food parcels. Are they not the reason for our suffering?”

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the internal dissent within Gaza grows louder. The question remains: how long can Hamas sustain its grip on power amidst rising discontent and a population on the brink of starvation? The answer may determine the future of Gaza and its people.