It has been reported that the Iranian regime has cut a significant amount of funding to Palestinian terror groups in Gaza and the West Bank.
A Palestinian newspaper, Al Quds, cited unnamed sources in Lebanon saying that Iran had made the decision three months ago and that it was causing a significant shortage of finances for the groups affected.
It appears the funding cut coincided with anti-regime protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died after being arrested for not correctly wearing her hijab. These protests have been nationwide against Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime and garnered global media coverage. Dozens of protesters have been killed by heavy-handed regime forces.
There has been no word on which Palestinian terror factions have had their funding cut, but it is well known that Iran funds groups such as Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
This withholding of funding will likely affect many aspects of the terror groups, from the salaries of terrorists to their activities in preparing for future conflict with Israel. It is also suspected that media outlets in the Palestinian territories which are controlled by the groups will be affected.
According to Al-Monitor, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad source said the terror group’s leaders were troubled by the protests in Iran precisely because they could affect the regime’s ability to fund Palestinian terrorism.
“We are concerned the protests will also affect the future of Iran’s financial and military support,” the PIJ source said.
The Iranian regime is currently struggling under a number of pressures. Alongside the protests, the regime is also hampered by crippling US sanctions. They are desperate to sign a new nuclear deal with the West in order to have money injected into their economy.
Meanwhile, Iran has seen some success in partnering with Russia and China, alleviating some of the sanctions pressure from the West.
At CUFI, we believe it is a mistake for Western nations, including the UK and US, to continue to strive for a nuclear deal with Iran. The Iranian regime is attempting to obtain nuclear weapons and Iran’s leaders have threatened to destroy Israel on numerous occasions.
As Christians, we must continue to pray for the protection of Israel and that the plans of those who seek her destruction will come to nothing.
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