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In Gaza, Iran Finds a Closer Ally Than Hamas In Gaza, Iran Finds an Ally More Agreeable Than Hamas
(about 1 hour later)
BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip — The oil, sugar, pasta and other staples looked innocuous enough as dozens of young Palestinian volunteers, sweating in the heat at a warehouse here, packed them into cartons destined for Gaza’s poor during the holy month of Ramadan.BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip — The oil, sugar, pasta and other staples looked innocuous enough as dozens of young Palestinian volunteers, sweating in the heat at a warehouse here, packed them into cartons destined for Gaza’s poor during the holy month of Ramadan.
But in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, the Islamic militant group, almost everything has a political flavor. But in Gaza, which is controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas, almost everything has a political flavor.
The food boxes bore the logo of Islamic Jihad and the Iranian flag alongside the Palestinian one. Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed extremist militant group, often challenges the larger Hamas.The food boxes bore the logo of Islamic Jihad and the Iranian flag alongside the Palestinian one. Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed extremist militant group, often challenges the larger Hamas.
Organizers at the packaging center said that the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, a Beirut-based Iranian charity, was financing the $2 million food aid project. Islamic Jihad has been granted the honors of distributing the 40,000 parcels, giving it a boost at a delicate time when Hamas is struggling to cope with a shifting regional landscape.Organizers at the packaging center said that the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, a Beirut-based Iranian charity, was financing the $2 million food aid project. Islamic Jihad has been granted the honors of distributing the 40,000 parcels, giving it a boost at a delicate time when Hamas is struggling to cope with a shifting regional landscape.
In recent months, Iran has suspended millions of dollars in monthly aid to Hamas because the group did not stand by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, its former patron, in his struggle against rebel forces. Unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad did not leave its base in Damascus and has kept up relations with the government of Mr. Assad, a longtime Iranian ally.In recent months, Iran has suspended millions of dollars in monthly aid to Hamas because the group did not stand by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, its former patron, in his struggle against rebel forces. Unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad did not leave its base in Damascus and has kept up relations with the government of Mr. Assad, a longtime Iranian ally.
Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, said that the food relief served as an Iranian reminder to Hamas that Iran was its only reliable backer. Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Al Azhar University in Gaza, said that the food relief served as an Iranian reminder to Hamas that Iran was its only reliable backer.
“The aid also aims to support Islamic Jihad as a resistance movement in the face of Israel,” Mr. Abusada added.“The aid also aims to support Islamic Jihad as a resistance movement in the face of Israel,” Mr. Abusada added.
Hamas has also been suffering from the turmoil in neighboring Egypt. As the Egyptian military has stepped up its campaign against Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza, it has destroyed or closed most of the lucrative smuggling tunnels that run beneath the Egypt-Gaza border, depriving Hamas of significant tax revenue.Hamas has also been suffering from the turmoil in neighboring Egypt. As the Egyptian military has stepped up its campaign against Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza, it has destroyed or closed most of the lucrative smuggling tunnels that run beneath the Egypt-Gaza border, depriving Hamas of significant tax revenue.
There are signs that Hamas is now trying to mend its relations with Iran. This week Hamas joined other groups at a meeting in an Islamic Jihad office in Gaza to help plan activities for International Quds Day, a day of solidarity with Jerusalem that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini instituted when he came to power in 1979 and which falls on the last Friday of Ramadan. In recent years only Islamic Jihad observed the event, with small demonstrations in Gaza. There are signs that Hamas is now trying to mend its relations with Iran. This week Hamas joined other groups at a meeting in an Islamic Jihad office in Gaza to help plan activities for International Quds Day, a day of solidarity with Jerusalem that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini instituted when he came to power in Iran in 1979 and which falls on the last Friday of Ramadan. In recent years only Islamic Jihad observed the event, with small demonstrations in Gaza.
In what was perhaps a gesture meant to lower tensions further, an Islamic Jihad official said that the group had allocated 3,000 Iranian-financed food packages to Hamas for distribution to needy families on its lists.In what was perhaps a gesture meant to lower tensions further, an Islamic Jihad official said that the group had allocated 3,000 Iranian-financed food packages to Hamas for distribution to needy families on its lists.
Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, said that additional food aid had become necessary in light of the Egyptian crackdown on the smuggling tunnels. Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, said that additional food had become necessary in light of the Egyptian crackdown on the smuggling tunnels.
“In these difficult circumstances, the distribution of aid from the Islamic nation is a blessing,” he said.“In these difficult circumstances, the distribution of aid from the Islamic nation is a blessing,” he said.
Khaled al-Batsh, an Islamic Jihad official in Gaza, said it was the right of Palestinians in Gaza to get assistance from the Islamic Republic, just as they take aid from the United States.Khaled al-Batsh, an Islamic Jihad official in Gaza, said it was the right of Palestinians in Gaza to get assistance from the Islamic Republic, just as they take aid from the United States.
For Um Anwar Saleh, 53, a widow and the mother of three from the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, the aid was welcome regardless of where it had come from.For Um Anwar Saleh, 53, a widow and the mother of three from the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, the aid was welcome regardless of where it had come from.
“Those who help us are better than those who don’t,” she said as she waved for a taxi to help her get the heavy carton home from the warehouse. “May Allah reward them.”“Those who help us are better than those who don’t,” she said as she waved for a taxi to help her get the heavy carton home from the warehouse. “May Allah reward them.”