TEL AVIV, July 6: Alongside their Gaza offensive and detention of Hamas officials, Israeli forces have been moving steadily against the Islamic charity network at the grassroots of the governing Palestinian militant group.

Offices of Islamic charities that are widely seen as close to Hamas have been raided in the past few days in Nablus, Tulkarm, Bethlehem and Jericho in the occupied West Bank.

Much of Hamas’s popularity has stemmed from its provision of services funded through Islamic charities, as well as its commitment to fighting Israel — which it is formally committed to destroying.

Holding Hamas responsible for the abduction of a soldier on June 25, Israel has dramatically increased pressure on the group, which in turn accuses the Jewish state of trying to bring down its government. Hamas won Palestinian elections in January.

One Islamic charity in Nablus was told in an Israeli order that it must close for a year because of ‘the need to fight terror infrastructure’. The zakat — or alms — committee was given 14 days to appeal.

“The monsoons are falling down on the all the zakat committees,” said charity head Abdel Rahim al-Hanbaly. “We are a humanitarian charitable committee working by God’s will to collect funds from the rich to give to the poor.”

The charity’s organising committee includes two men known as Hamas sympathisers, locals say. Hanbaly said the charity had no political affiliation.

Israel alleges the charities are run by Hamas and support the families of suicide bombers and jailed militants.

“This financial and social support provides an incentive for terrorists to carry out attacks,” an army statement said.

Israel arrested eight Hamas cabinet members and dozens of other officials last week to increases pressure on the group.

LINKS: Palestinian political analysts said the links between Hamas and the charities were often tenuous, sometimes based on the fact that Hamas sympathisers served on the boards of the groups.