The Palestinian information minister returned to the Gaza Strip with US$2 million stuffed in his luggage, the second straight day a senior Hamas official has hand-delivered large amounts of money to the cash-strapped government.
Youssef Rizka's suitcase delivery signals that Hamas has opened a new front in its battle against international sanctions by taking matters into its own hands -- literally. However, Palestinian officials said the practice had drawn a rebuke from European border monitors, raising questions about how long Hamas could continue.
Since the Hamas-led government took office in March, Israel and Western donors have cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in transfers to the Palestinians. They have demanded that Hamas, which they consider a terrorist group, renounce violence and recognize the Jewish state's right to exist.
Hamas has refused the demands, despite being unable to pay the salaries to most civil servants for the past three months. Instead, it has turned to Arab and Muslim countries for help.
However, international banks have refused to allow the group to transfer money electronically to the Palestinian areas, fearing US anti-terrorism sanctions. The efforts to physically carry money into Gaza shows just how effective the Western sanctions have been.
Rizka returned to Gaza yesterday from a trip to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He immediately declared the money to border officials and turned over the cash to the Palestinian Finance Ministry.
A day earlier, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar returned to Gaza from a trip to Muslim countries with US$20 million in his luggage.
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