Islamic Jihad's coffers run dry
The cutting off of economic support from Iran and the closing of smuggling tunnels to Egypt have left the Islamic Jihad unable to pay the salaries of its personnel.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip is suffering from a severe financial crisis that has resulted in a delay of several months in the payment of salaries, both to its military wing (Al-Quds Brigades) personnel and those working for its media and civic organizations, due to the stifling siege imposed on Gaza and the paucity of revenues from its main sponsor, Iran.
One of the movement’s leadership figures told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the Islamic Jihad has been suffering for months from the worst financial crisis in its history, leading to the organization shutting down some of its civic and research institutions. This has also led to the reduction of the budget set aside for some media organizations, to the point that some have had to let go of a number of their employees.
The same source said, “It has been months since members of the Islamic Jihad, including those in the military wing, were paid their allowances. In addition, some institutions will be closed down or their offices merged into a single location to reduce expenses as much as possible.”
In separate interviews with Al-Monitor, staff members of some Islamic Jihad-affiliated media and research institutions confirmed not having received their salaries for several months, and that they were performing minimal activities as a result of a sharp drop in resources.
