Huge sums are spent on luxurious lifestyles abroad for Hamas' top brass rather than the residents of Gaza and the revenues for this terrorist organization comes from an extensive network of companies, according to exclusive documents seen by the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. 

Welt claims German banks are also implicated in providing financial services for Hamas leaders, without naming any institution.

As a rule, Hamas leaders reside in luxury hotels far from Gaza – in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

Even before the current war, half of Palestinians in Gaza depended on UN food aid, with warnings from UNRWA – the UN relief aid agency for Palestinians – about the territory's imminent collapse.

Office of Investment

Despite ruling Gaza since 2007, Hamas allocates hundreds of millions of dollars to attacks on Israel and a lavish lifestyle abroad. The Shura Council, Hamas' supreme political body, oversees strategic decisions, including the "Office of Investment," a structure that manages a secret portfolio of foreign assets valued at about 700 million euros or over 750 million dollars.

Ismail Haniyeh stays at the Four Seasons hotel in Doha.

This financial empire spans 30 to 40 companies in Türkiye, Qatar, Algeria, the UAE, and Sudan.
While Gaza's population suffers from the consequences of Hamas' attacks, the leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, Khaled Mashaal, and Saleh al-Arouri, live in luxury hotels abroad, holding bank accounts worldwide.

The terrorist group’s three top leaders alone are worth a staggering total of 11 billion dollars, the New York Post quotes American intelligence sources.

Haniyeh, who presides over one of the organization’s political bureau, is worth more than 4 billion dollars. 

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He has been photographed with his two adult sons, Maaz and Abdel Salam, living the high life in luxury hotels in Qatar and Türkiye, show the pictures provided by the Israeli Embassy to the U.S. He visits Istanbul using a Turkish passport. In Doha, he stayed at the Four Seasons hotel, where a night costs starting at 900 dollars.

The controlling stake in that hotel rests with American billionaire Bill Gates.

Documents from Welt am Sonntag also reveal that the Hamas leadership has dozens of accounts in Turkish banks and corresponding banks in Germany facilitating transfers.

Initially, Hamas built its secret corporate portfolio in Saudi Arabia but later moved its financial office to Turkey as ties with the crown family strained. The financial apparatus is led by Zaher Ali Moussa Jabarin, managing finances for Hamas leaders and facilitating business ventures.

Jabarin also maintains ties with the leadership of Iran-based Hezbollah, another terrorist organization, based in Lebanon.

Where did relief money vanish?

Welt said its findings led the U.S. Treasury Department to impose sanctions on a number of individuals and companies, including Trend GYO in Türkiye. The latter continues operating without being bothered by U.S. sanctions or reactions from the Turkish government.

Khaled Mashal likes to relax at ping-pong games while at the hotel. 

A Globes report on Hamas wealth says the group controls all aspect of economic life in Gaza Strip, both legal and illegal businesses. Smuggling is one of the most lucrative operation in this region and Hamas charges 25% on every item brought through the numerous tunnels; a disassembled car, for example, would fetch at least 2,000 dollars. 

Gaza merchants are taxed for anything they sell in shops and in open air, without registering the money in accounting books. All the money is collected informally and goes directly into the pockets of Hamas leaders.

The aid Palestinian residents received until the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel came mainly from the UN, the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany and other western European countries. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, aid to Palestinians totaled over 40 billion dollars between 1994 and 2020, the U.S. being the largest donor. In 2022 the Palestinian government received 250 million dollars in donor budget support and 300 million for development projects. 

Yet nobody would answer how all this money has been spent.

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