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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkjtem5hwg
Qatari Money Flows Back to Hamas
(Ynet News) Yoav Zitun - Senior Israeli security officials have noted the expanding footprint in Gaza of Turkey and Qatar, two powerful states tied to the Muslim Brotherhood. Political leaders in Israel are aware that Qatar's entry into a long-term reconstruction process was accepted by the U.S. as a condition for ending the war and securing the return of hostages. Moreover, the vast majority of the 15 members of the new Palestinian governing body for Gaza are affiliated with the PLO, with a small number identified as having ties to Hamas. IDF officials have repeatedly stressed that Hamas became a terrorist monster by Oct. 7 largely due to hundreds of millions of dollars in Qatari cash that Israel allowed into Gaza in the years preceding the attack. "For every kg. of cement that built the Qatari neighborhood in Khan Yunis about a decade ago, three kg. of concrete went into Hamas's terror tunnels," IDF officials recalled. "This simply must not happen again," they said. "In the end, the money will be diverted to strengthening Hamas, even if it initially serves civilian purposes. That will help preserve Hamas's de facto rule in Gaza." Moreover, the 800 aid trucks entering Gaza daily generate tens of millions of shekels for Hamas due to the taxation it imposes. This supports salary increases for tens of thousands of Hamas operatives and officials, a return to rocket production, and even planning for a future Oct. 7-style attack, albeit in a different form.