The resumption of aid delivery through distribution centers operated by international organizations—now under civilian security supervision—has created a system that bypasses Hamas entirely.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday released Hamas documents and recordings exposing the terror group’s strategy to exploit humanitarian aid. These declassified materials reveal how Hamas not only hijacked the flow of aid but systematically manipulated it to strengthen its military infrastructure.

“Hamas diverted significant portions of the aid to serve its own interests,” the IDF stated. “This was done at the expense of the civilian population in Gaza, whom Hamas has consistently exploited for its own survival.”

According to the IDF, Hamas viewed the influx of humanitarian assistance not as a lifeline for civilians, but as an opportunity to enrich its operations and tighten its grip on the Gaza Strip.

Intelligence documents now declassified indicate that Hamas openly and covertly embedded operatives within incoming aid convoys, positioning itself as the central authority overseeing distribution in much of the enclave.

One of the primary methods outlined involved a systematic boycott mechanism whereby between 15-25% of incoming aid was automatically seized by Hamas.

“This diverted aid was either handed directly to Hamas operatives or sold at inflated prices on the black market,” the military revealed. A newly uncovered internal Hamas document confirmed that percentages of seizure were adjusted during the war based on shifting logistical needs.

Another scheme involved the smuggling and monopolization of prohibited goods, particularly cigarettes. Hamas reportedly banned private merchants from selling tobacco products, while simultaneously orchestrating efforts to smuggle and distribute the same goods at exorbitant rates.

The Israeli Defense Ministry border inspectors thwarted dozens of such smuggling attempts throughout the war.

“Hamas turned even basic consumer goods into tools of control and profit,” a senior IDF intelligence officer said. “They prevented local traders from operating freely, while cornering the market for themselves.”

Beyond material aid, Hamas exploited foreign funding through a financial mechanism known as hawala. This refers to an informal network of trusted brokers to transfer money rather than through traditional banking systems.

Hawala typically leaves little to no paper trail. According to IDF estimates, Hamas received hundreds of millions of shekels via operatives abroad, primarily through intermediaries based in Turkey.

This money was then used to purchase surplus aid, which was brought into Gaza and sold at inflated prices — again, turning humanitarian goods into a cash-generating venture.

The IDF also highlighted the terrorist organization’s use of mafia-style extortion. Under what officials described as a “protection” racket, Hamas imposed taxes and security fees on various sectors in Gaza, further consolidating control and extracting profit.

“This is not just theft—it’s systemic abuse of international goodwill,” the IDF said in a statement. “Hamas has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and goods through its exploitation of aid meant for civilians.”

The Press Service of Israel reported in November that Hamas and criminal gangs associated with it hijacked 85% of all the trucks entering the Strip with food, water, medicine and other humanitarian items.

TPS-IL learned that Hamas granted distribution lines to these groups to ensure that humanitarian aid exclusively reaches Hamas. In return, these gangs receive money, food and vouchers. Hamas also pays these gangs $10,000 a month to maintain checkpoints.

The impact of these schemes became particularly evident after the Israeli government ordered a halt to the entry of humanitarian aid in early March.

According to the military, this move sharply curtailed Hamas’s revenue stream, resulting in significant financial distress. “They were forced to reduce or even stop paying salaries to some of their members,” the IDF disclosed.

In response to the abuse, the IDF, in coordination with Military Intelligence and the Defense Intelligence Agency, has implemented new oversight procedures to ensure aid does not fall into Hamas hands.

These include detailed registration of aid organizations, enhanced customs and inspection protocols at crossings, and sanctions for non-compliance.

More recently, the resumption of aid delivery through distribution centers operated by international organizations—now under civilian security supervision—has created a system that bypasses Hamas entirely.

“Food packages are being delivered directly to Gaza residents,” the IDF said, “without Hamas interference.”

On Wednesday night, Hamas attacked an aid convoy belonging to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, killing eight aid workers and kidnapping several others.

Hamas has also fired on Palestinians making their way to distribution centers. Residents of the Strip accuse the terror group of violence to deliberately disrupt the aid.

“The evidence is overwhelming,” the military concluded. “Hamas is not interested in the welfare of Gaza’s residents. Its only concern is maintaining power and attacking Israeli civilians. The world must recognize this cynical exploitation for what it is.”

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 53 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead.

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The company said 46% of the year’s revenue was generated from abroad.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems reported record earnings in 2024 with a 64% surge in its net profit for 2024, the state-owned defense contractor announced on Wednesday.

The Haifa-based Rafael said it reached NIS 17.8 billion ($4.84 billion) in sales, a growth of 27% from the previous year.

“Rafael’s advanced systems, such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Windbreaker saved thousands of lives and at the same time made it possible to conduct a war routine and provided breathing space for maneuvering forces,” said Rafael Chairman, Dr. Yuval Steinitz.

“At the same time, this year we also continued the development of Rafael’s laser system, which is the only one of its kind in the world.”

Sales increased by 27%, reaching a total of NIS 17.8 billion ($4.84 billion), compared to NIS 14 billion ($3.82 billion) in 2023. Rafael also saw a 64% surge in its net profit, which climbed to NIS 950 million ($259 million).

Rafael also noted a historic backlog of orders amounting to NIS 64.8 billion ($17.6 billion), a 24% increase from the previous year. The backlog represents 3.6 years of sales, with nearly half of the orders coming from international markets.

The company said 46% of the year’s revenue was generated from abroad.

Rafael’s success stems from Israel’s increased defense spending during the past year’s war with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran and its proxies, while Russia’s war in Ukraine sparked a surge in European contracts.

Rafael is best known for its Iron Dome and David’s Sling air defense systems. Windbreaker, also known as Trophy, is an active protection system for armored military vehicles.

The groundbreaking Iron Beam laser defense system is expected to become operational in mid-2025. Iron Beam is designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including rockets, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles.

The plan is to integrate Iron Beam into the Iron Dome system. In the future, an algorithm will determine whether to shoot down aerial threats with a laser or an interceptor.

The fourth quarter of 2024 marked a record-high performance for Rafael, with sales reaching NIS 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion), a 20% increase from the same period in 2023. In this quarter alone, the company secured approximately NIS 11 billion ($3 billion) in orders.

Rafael reported NIS 30.4 billion ($8.2 billion) in new orders in 2024, surpassing the previous year’s total of NIS 29.9 billion ($8.15 billion).

The surge led to job creation, as approximately 1,800 new employees joined Rafael.

“We are proud to continue our role as the largest employer in the north of Israel, supporting both the local economy and the broader defense industry,” Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman said.

“Our success is not only about financial growth but also about creating opportunities for the local community and contributing to the rebuilding of the northern region.”

Rafael also inaugurated a new missile factory in Arkansas in partnership with the US defense contractor Raytheon.

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Sales grew by 13% to $1.4 billion compared to $1.3 billion in the same period last year.

By Sveta Listratov, TPS

Israel Aerospace Industries announced record-breaking profits in the first half of 2024 thanks to a 25% surge in orders and 78% increase in profits from last year.

“These numbers refer to sales both domestically to the defense system and to international markets. The world continues to express confidence in our systems and the solutions we provide, as our systems are truly the best fit for our clients’ needs,” Shay Gal, VP of External Relations at IAI told The Press Service of Israel.

IAI reported a 115% surge in second-quarter profits, reaching $159 million, up from $74 million a year earlier, and $36.4 million in the first quarter of 2024.

Sales grew by 13% to $1.4 billion compared to $1.3 billion in the same period last year. The order backlog hit a record $22 billion.

Moreover, exports accounted for 69% of sales, totaling $973 million, a 27% increase from last year.

Sales to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reached $447 million, representing 32% of total sales, mainly from the missile and space division.

IAI’s first-half net profit was $294 million, a 78% increase from $165 million last year, with total sales rising 12% to $2.8 billion.

This surge reflects a growing global interest in IAI’s advanced defense systems, including the widely acclaimed Arrow-3 missile defense system.

The Arrow-3 system, which is capable of intercepting missiles in space, made its first interception when it shot down a Houthi ballistic missile in October.

It may have been the first time a missile was shot down outside Earth’s atmosphere, but Israel has not confirmed that.

Israeli air defenses drew further international attention in April when Iran launched a barrage of more than 320 missiles and drones. Most of the UAVs were shot down by American, British and Jordanian forces while Israel shot down nearly all of the cruise and ballistic missiles.

“It’s very important to know that alongside our commitment to the Israel Defense Forces and the defense system, the commitment to Israel’s security, which is the raison d’être for people here to get up in the morning and do what they do, we are not neglecting our international focus,” Gal told TPS-IL.

“The deals continue to be signed worldwide; the service continues,” he said.

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