pt.euronews.com
Hamas's Covert $7 Million Salary System for Gaza Civilians Amidst War
Hamas secretly pays roughly 30,000 Gaza civilian employees about $7 million through a clandestine cash system using encrypted messages and secret locations, despite the ongoing war and destruction of its financial infrastructure; employees receive about 20% of their original salary every ten weeks.
- What are the reported funding sources for Hamas's salary payments to civilian employees, and how do these methods reflect the group's financial strategies during wartime?
- The Hamas system relies on distributing funds through a network of anonymous drop-offs, creating high-risk situations for employees who risk their lives to receive their partial salaries. This demonstrates Hamas's capacity to maintain essential services even amid significant military conflict and infrastructural damage, highlighting their resourcefulness.
- How does Hamas maintain a complex salary distribution system for tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza despite the ongoing war and destruction of its financial infrastructure?
- Despite the ongoing war, Hamas continues to pay approximately 30,000 civilian employees in Gaza through a clandestine cash system, totaling about $7 million. This involves encrypted messages directing employees to secret locations for payments, often resulting in employees receiving significantly reduced salaries (up to 20% of their original amount).
- What are the long-term implications of Hamas's covert salary distribution system for the stability and governance of Gaza, considering the potential for resentment and distrust among the civilian population?
- The use of a covert cash system highlights Hamas's resilience and adaptive financial strategies, potentially indicating the existence of hidden financial reserves or alternative funding sources. The system's inherent risks could cause instability and discontent among civilian employees, potentially influencing social dynamics within Gaza.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the clandestine nature of Hamas's salary distribution system, highlighting the secrecy and risks involved. This choice, combined with the use of personal anecdotes from employees, may evoke sympathy towards these individuals but also potentially casts Hamas in a more negative light than a neutral presentation might allow. The headline (if one existed, which is not provided here) likely plays a significant role in this framing, though its specifics are unavailable for analysis.
Language Bias
The report uses relatively neutral language, mostly sticking to factual reporting. The descriptions of the salary distribution process – 'taking tea with a friend' – are somewhat euphemistic, softening the potentially illicit nature of the activities. However, other descriptions, such as calling the money "torn" notes and referring to two and a half months of "hunger", are emotionally charged and may sway reader's sympathy toward the civilians.
Bias by Omission
The report focuses heavily on the Hamas's secretive salary payment system, but omits details about the overall economic situation in Gaza and the various sources of financial support available to its citizens. It also doesn't explore alternative explanations for the reported financial hardship of civilians, nor does it delve into the broader impact of the war on the Gazan economy beyond the Hamas's actions. While acknowledging the difficulty of obtaining information during wartime, the lack of broader economic context limits a complete understanding of the situation.
False Dichotomy
The report presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between the Hamas's actions and the suffering of civilians. While it highlights the hardship faced by those receiving reduced salaries, it doesn't fully explore the complexities of the situation, such as the potential motivations of Hamas or the other factors influencing the civilian economy during the conflict. This may lead to a more black and white view of the situation than is warranted.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights that Hamas is paying a fraction of the original salaries to its employees, with some receiving money in damaged condition. This impacts the ability of families to meet their basic needs, exacerbating poverty. The mention of employees resorting to aid distribution points for food further underscores the economic hardship and failure to alleviate poverty.