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Palestine: Whether Hamas extorts money to support their cause from Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip

The following information was provided during three telephone interviews with representatives of human rights organizations in the Occupied Territories: Badil (21 Dec. 1998); HaMoked (formerly Hotline for Victims of Violence) (21 Dec. 1998); and Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (18 Dec. 1998).

The representatives stated that Hamas does not extort money from Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank and that they have never come across a case of extortion by Hamas during their human rights monitoring activities in the Occupied Territories. Hamas does not have a funding problem and does not need to take money from the Palestinian population. Hamas' main sources of funding are Saudi Arabia, Iran and several Muslim organizations in Europe.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Badil: Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Bethleem, West Bank. 21 December 1998. Telephone interview with the Director. Badil is a Palestinian non-profit non-governmental organization that aims to provide critical and progressive information and analysis on the question of Palestinian residency rights and refugees.

HaMoked, Jerusalem. 21 December 1998. Telephone interview with researcher. HaMoked is an Israeli organization founded in 1988 to defend human rights in the Occupied Territories. It has provided assistance to several thousand Palestinian victims of violence, human rights abuse and bureaucratic harassment. HaMoked registers complaints and follows them through using administrative and legal channels until the matter is successfully resolved. In addition to individual assistance, HaMoked advocates for human rights at the policy level.

Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG), Jerusalem. 21 December 1998. Telephone interview with the Director. The PHRMG is a Palestinian, independent, non-governmental organization working to end human rights violations committed against Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, regardless of the party responsible.

Topics: Palestinian, Militias,