Will Iran deal mean more money for Hamas?
Now that sanctions have been lifted against Iran, Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza are waiting to see if Iran will restore or perhaps increase its military and financial support.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — As Palestinians hope for a potential windfall of support from Iran's newly restored wealth, some observers are warning them not to hold their breath.
Iran has provided financial and military support for some Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, especially Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, since the early 1990s. But Iran dramatically reduced this support in early 2011, when the factions refused to take sides in the ongoing war in Syria.
Now that the crippling sanctions that had been in place against Iran since 1979 were lifted Jan. 16, these groups hope to benefit. However, Tehran's stance on Syria hasn't changed, so observers believe Iran isn't likely to increase its support unless the factions side with Iran — and they don't appear ready to do so.
The only Palestinian faction to even comment publicly on the sanctions removal was the pro-Iran Harakat Al-Sabireen (“Movement of Those Who Endure with Patience”), which called the agreement a victory for the nation and a sign of pride and strength.
