Latest news with #MoumenAlNatour
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Hamas fighters ‘not paid for three months' because of Israeli aid block
Hamas has not paid its fighters for three months due to Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid preventing the group seizing and selling supplies, according to reports. Members of the al-Qassam brigades, Hamas' military wing, have not received any pay since around February, a source from within the terror group told the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. Families of terrorists killed or captured during fighting with Israel are also reported to have not received their usual remuneration. Hamas's civil workers were said to have received a reduced salary equivalent of $250 four months ago, which 'sparked resentment among employees'. It is not clear if they have been paid since. Budgets allocated towards ministries and government agencies were also reported to have been put on hold around the same time. Israel cut off supplies of humanitarian aid to Gaza in March, some of which Hamas had reportedly been seizing and selling to raise money. Around 100 aid lorries were allowed to reenter the strip on Friday, but this was much reduced from the around 600 a day that were crossing the border before March. Moumen Al-Natour, a Palestinian lawyer from the Al-Shati camp in central Gaza, told the Wall Street Journal last week that the cash-strapped terror group had 'a big crisis' on its hands. 'They were mainly dependent on humanitarian aid sold in black markets for cash,' he explained. The renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza has also reportedly targeted Hamas officials involved in distributing cash. Hamas has 'never experienced such conditions before, whether during the current war or in previous periods' and there is a 'clear administrative vacuum', Asharq Al-Awsat wrote. On Monday Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney called on Israel to lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid and stop its military operations in Gaza, a statement that was strongly condemned by the Israeli government. Hundreds of Palestinians were seen in footage posted to social media this week calling for an end to the war and the removal of the group, which has been in power in Gaza for nearly two decades. The protests appear to have been sparked by claims from a senior Hamas official that the war with Israel was 'eternal', and that Palestinians would 'produce dozens more babies for each martyr'. 'Out! Out! Out! All of Hamas, out!' the protesters chanted, despite the danger of speaking out against the terror group in the war-torn enclave. In March, a 22-year-old man was tortured to death by armed gunmen after taking part in anti-Hamas demonstrations. Videos from Khan Younis show young men criticising Hamas for selling their 'blood for a dollar… To those with Hamas, be aware the people of Gaza will dig your grave'. Gaza-based journalists reportedly received threats after the protests, warning them not to publish any 'negative news that could affect the morale of the people'. One man, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC: 'The people do not care any more about Hamas's attempts to suppress their voice because they are literally dying from hunger, evacuation, and the bombings.' Hamas is also reported to have lost much of its influence in the Occupied West Bank, with underfunded terror cells not carrying out attacks on Israeli settlers or troops due to fear of military raids. Israel continued its new Gaza offensive on Saturday, with the strip's Hamas-run civil defence agency saying at least 15 people were killed by Israeli strikes. 'Suddenly, a missile from an F-16 destroyed the entire house, and all of them were civilians – my sister, her husband and their children,' said Wissam Al-Madhoun outside Khan Younis's Nasser Hospital, where tearful mourners gathered around white-shrouded bodies. 'We found them lying in the street. What did this child do to Netanyahu?' he added. The Israeli military said it was unable to comment on individual strikes without their 'precise geographical coordinates'. In a statement, the military said that over the past day the air force had struck more than 100 targets across the territory, including members of 'terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip, military structures, underground routes and additional terrorist infrastructure'.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gazans speak out against Hamas for the first time in 18 years
The abject desperation in the Gaza Strip is emboldening the population there. For the first time since Hamas seized power 18 years ago, they are speaking out against Hamas at great personal risk. "Since Oct. 7 people have been blaming Hamas and recognizing Hamas started this war," Moumen Al Natour said. A Gaza lawyer and former political prisoner of Hamas, Al Natour knows very well the risk he is taking by making public statements against Hamas. "I would be lying if I said I was not afraid," he said through a translator. "I am afraid like any citizen living as a hostage under Hamas rule for the last 18 years. If I don't speak out against Hamas, we will certainly be exposed to something worse in the future." Slain Hamas Hostage's Family Fights For The Release Of Those Still In Gaza While Al Natour is taking the dangerous step of speaking out – he even wrote an opinion piece published in The Washington Post – he is not entirely alone. Read On The Fox News App On March 26, thousands of Palestinians took to the devastated streets in the Northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. They chanted, "Out, out, Hamas get out" and "The people want the fall of Hamas." A demonstration in Gaza against Hamas would have previously been a guarantee of a heavy-handed response from the terrorist organization. Now, Hamas is weakened, partially by Israeli Defense Forces, partially by the desperation of the Gazans Hamas claims to serve. "Recently, anger has been increasing towards Hamas because the situation is deteriorating," said Al Natour. Power has been a rare luxury in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. Video that comes from the Gaza Strip is an accurate reflection of the pervasiveness of the destruction. Al Natour told Fox News only buildings in the center of the Gaza Strip escaped the wrath of Israel's army. Water is scarce. "Most of the water we have is dirty, unhealthy water," Al Natour said. "It's very hard to have access to clean water. The water they use for other purposes is seawater, and it's very salty. It is greatly affecting people's health over here." Un Global Comms Arm Under Fire For Anti-israel Bias As Critics Call For Reforms Life in Gaza will only return to a healthy standard when the war ends. So, Al Natour says Gazans want to liberate the Israeli hostages. "The people of Gaza are all for the release of all Israeli hostages and sending them back to their houses. But, on the other hand, the civilians in Gaza do not have anything. They do not have the tools or any ability to help in this matter." He also said that Gazans want an end to Hamas rule, replacing them with local leadership focused less on fighting Israel, less on political affiliation, more on providing the basics of life. "Gaza is totally destroyed," he said. "We don't need political affiliations or political programs right now. We only want to give the people services." The established Palestinian leadership was quick to reject President Donald Trump's proposal to evacuate and then reconstruct the Gaza Strip and call it a freedom zone. "That's a hell of a place," the president said last Monday. Living in the destruction, Al Natour thinks Gazans could agree, even if it means leaving the coastal strip for good. "People welcomed Trump's recommendation because life in Gaza is hell, and no human being can stay in Gaza forever under these circumstances."Original article source: Gazans speak out against Hamas for the first time in 18 years
Fox News
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Gazans speak out against Hamas for the first time in 18 years
The abject desperation in the Gaza Strip is emboldening the population there. For the first time since Hamas seized power 18 years ago, they are speaking out against Hamas at great personal risk. "Since Oct. 7 people have been blaming Hamas and recognizing Hamas started this war," Moumen Al Natour said. A Gaza lawyer and former political prisoner of Hamas, Al Natour knows very well the risk he is taking by making public statements against Hamas. "I would be lying if I said I was not afraid," he said through a translator. "I am afraid like any citizen living as a hostage under Hamas rule for the last 18 years. If I don't speak out against Hamas, we will certainly be exposed to something worse in the future." While Al Natour is taking the dangerous step of speaking out – he even wrote an opinion piece published in The Washington Post – he is not entirely alone. On March 26, thousands of Palestinians took to the devastated streets in the Northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. They chanted, "Out, out, Hamas get out" and "The people want the fall of Hamas." A demonstration in Gaza against Hamas would have previously been a guarantee of a heavy-handed response from the terrorist organization. Now, Hamas is weakened, partially by Israeli Defense Forces, partially by the desperation of the Gazans Hamas claims to serve. "Recently, anger has been increasing towards Hamas because the situation is deteriorating," said Al Natour. Power has been a rare luxury in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. Video that comes from the Gaza Strip is an accurate reflection of the pervasiveness of the destruction. Al Natour told Fox News only buildings in the center of the Gaza Strip escaped the wrath of Israel's army. Water is scarce. "Most of the water we have is dirty, unhealthy water," Al Natour said. "It's very hard to have access to clean water. The water they use for other purposes is seawater, and it's very salty. It is greatly affecting people's health over here." Life in Gaza will only return to a healthy standard when the war ends. So, Al Natour says Gazans want to liberate the Israeli hostages. "The people of Gaza are all for the release of all Israeli hostages and sending them back to their houses. But, on the other hand, the civilians in Gaza do not have anything. They do not have the tools or any ability to help in this matter." He also said that Gazans want an end to Hamas rule, replacing them with local leadership focused less on fighting Israel, less on political affiliation, more on providing the basics of life. "Gaza is totally destroyed," he said. "We don't need political affiliations or political programs right now. We only want to give the people services." The established Palestinian leadership was quick to reject President Donald Trump's proposal to evacuate and then reconstruct the Gaza Strip and call it a freedom zone. "That's a hell of a place," the president said last Monday. Living in the destruction, Al Natour thinks Gazans could agree, even if it means leaving the coastal strip for good. "People welcomed Trump's recommendation because life in Gaza is hell, and no human being can stay in Gaza forever under these circumstances."
