The WSJ reported on Hamas' difficulties with payments to fighters and officials in Gaza.

The Palestinian Hamas movement is having difficulty paying its fighters and officials in the Gaza Strip. This was reported on April 16 by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing Palestinian, Israeli and Western sources.

According to the newspaper, before the current escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023, Hamas had accumulated about $500 million from sponsors from the Middle East, West Africa, South Asia and the United Kingdom. Since the outbreak of hostilities, the cash flow has sharply decreased, and the withdrawal of funds to Gaza has become more difficult.

In addition to sponsorship, Hamas also generated revenue from the humanitarian aid trade in the enclave by collecting fees and confiscating some supplies for resale. In addition, the movement bought goods abroad and sold them in Gaza.

The WSJ reported that the resumption of hostilities in March this year, Israel's suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the elimination of senior Hamas members led to a significant reduction in financial revenues. The movement reduced the salaries of officials, reduced the salaries of commanders and payments to fighters.

The publication noted that financial difficulties negatively affect the morale and the ability of Hamas to attract new recruits.

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On April 15, the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah reported, citing the Gaza Ministry of Health, that more than 51,000 people had been killed in the enclave since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began. In addition, over 116,000 residents of the Gaza Strip were injured.

The IDF resumed military operations against Hamas in Gaza on March 18. The press service of the Gaza Ministry of Health reported on March 28 that more than 890 people have been killed and over 1,980 injured in Israeli attacks since then.