Behind Hamas’ Guns, a Serious Problem of Funding – Shuki Sadeh
(dailyalert.org, Aug. 1, 2014)

Until 2011 Iran was Hamas’ “sugar daddy,” with an estimated 80% of the aid from Tehran going directly to the military wing of Hamas. Syria, another source of funds, cut off Hamas after it backed the Sunni forces fighting the Assad regime in that country’s civil war, as did Iran for the same reason. Qatar has taken up some of the slack, as has Turkey, which has spent $350 million on projects in Gaza. In contrast to the money from Qatar, it is clear the Turkish funds actually reached their intended recipients.

In its early years, before it was designated a terrorist organization and banned from receiving funds, Hamas raised most of its funding openly, from wealthy Muslims in Europe and the U.S. That route has been closed, but money continues to enter Gaza in cash-filled suitcases, through the tunnels from Egypt. (Ha’aretz)

Khamenei Mends Relations with Hamas – Ali Alfoneh
(dailyalert.org, Aug. 1, 2014)

Arm Hamas. That was the main message of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s speech on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the feast marking the end of the month of Ramadan. The support for Hamas marked a shift in rhetoric for the Iranian leader. Ties suffered because of Iran’s support for Bashar al-Assad. The Hamas external leadership left Damascus in 2012.

“A rabid dog, and a predatory wolf has attacked innocent people,” Khamenei said, referring to Israel and its current war against Hamas in Gaza. He accused “the usurping and infidel Zionist regime” of committing “genocide,” and demanded “punishment” for the “perpetrators of these crimes and their backers.”

Finally, Khamenei said: “The entire world, and in particular the world of Islam, is obliged to do everything in its ability to arm the people of Palestine.” The renewed partnership should serve as a warning to those who believe a negotiated solution to the nuclear crisis would lead to changes in the regime’s policy of supporting violent non-state actors. The writer is a senior fellow at the FDD. (Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.)