Desperate for cash, Hamas tries to make up with Iran

The days when Mahmoud al-Zahar (pictured), Ayman Taha and others smuggled millions in cash into the Gaza Strip are long gone, and now the organization is desperate for money. Desperate enough that despite having left Iran's ally, Syria, months ago Hamas has now gone to Iran to beg for money.

Representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group ruling the Gaza Strip, met with Iranian and Hezbollah officials in Beirut last month in an effort to forge a rapprochement following a lengthy period of tensions, the Arab language daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Sunday.

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Both sides discussed a number of issues during the meeting, including Iranian aid to Hamas which has been reduced significantly in recent years, particularly since the Palestinian organization withdrew its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Asharq al-Awsat quoted a Gaza-based Hamas official, Ahmed Yusuf, as saying that the Palestinian group was reassured that Tehran viewed it as a “strategic partner.”

Yusuf, a senior advisor to Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, told Asharq al-Awsat that he anticipated ties with Iran would be restored soon.

Some people will do anything for money. Yes, unfortunately, on our side too.