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Source: https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-rafah-striking-at-the-heart-of-hamas-operations-1001471315
Rafah: Striking at the Heart of Hamas Operations
(Globes) Dean Shmuel Elmas - Israel is preparing for a ground offensive against the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza - Rafah. There are currently 1.3 million Palestinians in Rafah, which had a prewar population of 300,000. Rafah is at the core of economic activity for Hamas because of the cash being smuggled in from Egypt. Dr. Ido Zelkovitz, head of the Middle East Studies Program at Jezreel Valley Academic College, said, "The crossing under Rafah is very important for the existence and maintenance of Hamas' economy." It is the gateway from Gaza to the world. "Without control of Rafah, Hamas, which relies on smuggling, would have its oxygen pipeline to the world cut off." He says Rafah is a tribal region and the tunnels are controlled by Hamas and local clans, which divide up the income from the tunnels, with clan leaders receiving royalties from Hamas to prevent them from rising up against it. The clans take part in the smuggling operations, even though they are not members of Hamas, because it is in their economic interest.