NewsHundreds die while Hamas leadership lives in luxury

Hundreds die while Hamas leadership lives in luxury

Palestinians have had enough of Hamas, they feel cheated and left to fend for themselves.
Palestinians have had enough of Hamas, they feel cheated and left to fend for themselves.
Images source: © Getty Images | Ahmad Hasaballah
8:21 AM EST, November 5, 2023

The onslaught led by the IDF against both civilians and military targets in the Gaza Strip continues uninterrupted. Ordinary people are the victims while Hamas leaders, the initiators of the war with their attack on Israel, enjoy opulent lifestyles. As reported by "Bild", these leaders have amassed fortunes worth billions of dollars. Yet, they make no move to alleviate the suffering of their people or to secure the safety of Palestinian children. It would seem this condemnable scenario suits the Hamas leaders perfectly.

Having had enough of Hamas fighters and activists, Palestinians feel deceived and deserted. As Israel ceaselessly assaults the Gaza Strip, conducting military operations that result in a high number of civilian casualties, there appears to be no Hamas members on-site to aid the innocent. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident.

Other than lighting the flame of war, which started with an attack on Israel on October 7, Hamas has little to provide for its people. As the "Bild" journalists reveal, the leadership of the organization has profited enormously from their conflicts with Israel, amassing millions in their accounts and living ostentatiously in luxurious villas and cars. It seems life is nothing short of sumptuous for the Hamas leaders.

This indulgence starkly contrasts with the daily misery experienced by ordinary people, who face inevitable death in the Gaza Strip.

Over 2 million people reside in the Gaza Strip, with a shocking 39 percent joblessness rate. The area has been impoverished for years, and the residents live on the brink of destitution. However, there is a small group of several hundred wealthy individuals who are detached from this reality. They're none other than the Hamas leaders, living lavishly in their luxury villas, in careless extravagance.

Their exorbitant lifestyle is flaunted on social media, showcasing their expensive cars and nights in luxury hotels. They misappropriate the assistance funds intended for humanitarian aid and reconstruction of the devastated nation. While some of the money goes towards buying weapons and building underground tunnels, a huge chunk is simply pocketed.

The billionaire lifestyles of Hamas leaders

The luxurious lives of the Hamas leaders aren't news. The "Bild" journalists paint a picture of the living conditions of these leaders as their compatriots struggle for survival. Ordinary people are merely pawns, exploited by terrorists, who use them as human shields and hide behind them during Israeli attacks.

Palestinians have yet again painfully realized that their lives don't matter to Hamas.

The organization preys on their suffering, using it to mint money and consolidate power. The more impoverished and starved the population is, the more susceptible they become to propaganda and the easier it becomes to manipulate them. As perverse as it may sound, Hamas thrives on the suffering of its people and shows no signs of wanting to instigate change.

Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas and the Prime Minister of the Gaza Strip since 2019, frequents exclusive hotels in Qatar and Turkey. He travels in style, jetting between Tehran, Istanbul, Moscow, and Cairo in a private jet. The Haniyeh family's wealth is estimated at a staggering 2.5 billion dollars; their patriarch is a major figure in the Middle East and a business magnate.

Khaled Mashal, former head of the Hamas political office, has 1.5 billion dollars in his account. Now he oversees the group's real estate and financial operations. Mousa Abu Marzouk, who is responsible for international relations, has a bank balance of 2 billion dollars. Yunis Kafisheh, the financier of Hamas, pocketed 2 million euros just last year in Turkey.

This isn't the first time the organization has shown complete disregard for their fellow citizens. Why did Hamas representatives invest in constructing miles of tunnels and fortifications in the Gaza Strip, but utterly ignore the civilian population who have been constantly dying? Abu Marzouk, a member of the terrorist organization's leadership, clarifies who should be aiding these civilians.

According to him, it is the responsibility of the UN and its agencies, not the Hamas activists. For these fighters, war is the priority, not the prevailing dire situation of their people. However, it's clear that war is not their only concern - luxuries and a high standard of living also take precedence. Surprised?

Related content