Just a few days before their terror attack, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) sends out hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ money to a Hamas-linked charity in Gaza, the Bayader Association for Environment and Development.
On October 7, Hamas launched armed incursions from the Gaza Strip toward southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of almost 1,200 Israelis, while hundreds were kidnapped, including American citizens.
Since 2016, USAID has handed almost a million dollars to the organization, which expresses outright support for Hamas and works with them on various projects.
Bayader received their largest single payout in 2021, $423,736. Hamas’ strategy to secure this funding was to route the cash through a group of US-based non-profit organizations, which are required to verify any foreign entities receiving grants.
One prominent Hamas leader associated with Bayader was Ismail Haniyeh, a political leader of Hamas and a designated terrorist.
Months before the attack, Bayader and Islamic Relief organized an activity in Khan Yunis, a city in Gaza. Among their guests were senior Hamas officials, including Abdul Salam Haniyeh, the son of Ismail and another leading figure in the terrorist organization.
Bayader was listed as USAID’s sub-grantee; among the charities that sent in support for them through USAID were Catholic Relief Services, Global Communities, and the International Medical Corps.
Additionally, the funding institution recognized Bayader’s work on their social media and visited Bayader’s offices, where one of their officials, Jonathan Kamin, received recognition from the terror-linked organization.
Bayader never kept their Hamas ties secret. In fact, in its 2021 annual report notes, they had “coordination” and “meetings” with Hamas’ Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Social Affairs, and Ministry of Agriculture.
Officials of the charity group were often seen with Hamas politicians.
In March last year, Hamas’s Ministry of Public Works publicly announced its support for Bayader’s public infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip.
Bayader also advertises on Hamas media and dangles their USAID funding.
Bayader officials also reciprocate the support. Abd Rabbo Saeed Abu Haddaf, Bayader’s financial director, grieved the death of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Ahmed Abu Deka, whom he referred to as a “brother and friend.” Abu Deka was the deputy commander of the Al-Quds Brigades’ rocket forces.
Meanwhile, its project coordinator, Ahlam Jama, has also mourned the death of Baha Abu al-Ata, another Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader.
“Hamas keeps an artificial distance between its leadership and these charities exactly so grants such as this USAID money and Islamic Relief funding are made possible,” said Sam Westrop, director of the Middle East Forum’s counter-terrorism program.
“In practice, however, these charities operate as arms of Hamas, building its infrastructure projects.”
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Author: The Raging Patriot
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