Hamas is facing a new problem in Gaza: coming up with the cash it needs to pay its rank and file.

Israel last month cut off supplies of humanitarian goods to the enclave, some of which Hamas had been seizing and selling to raise funds, according to Arab, Israeli and Western officials. Its renewed offensive has targeted and killed Hamas officials who played important roles in distributing cash to cadres and sent others into hiding, Arab intelligence officials said.

Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as next month but was waved off by President Trump in recent weeks in favor of negotiating a deal with Tehran to limit its nuclear program, according to administration officials and others briefed on the discussions.

Mr. Trump made his decision after months of internal debate over whether to pursue diplomacy or support Israel in seeking to set back Iran’s ability to build a bomb, at a time when Iran has been weakened militarily and economically.

Israel was preparing to launch military strikes against multiple nuclear targets in Iran—until U.S. President Donald Trump intervened, according to a New York Times report citing administration officials and other briefed on the discussions.

Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Wednesday night.

The Context

President Donald Trump has halted Israel's plans for a May strike on Iranian nuclear sites, opting instead to open negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, according to officials briefed on the matter, The New York Times reported.

President Donald Trump opted to engage in diplomatic talks with Iran on a nuclear deal rather than go ahead with Israeli proposed strikes on the nation. Officials with the Trump administration who spoke with The New York Times indicated that while Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu was interested in attacking Iran, Trump told him during their White House meeting that he would instead begin talks.

As his enemies closed in on Damascus, Bashar al-Assad, who ruled over Syria with an iron fist for 24 years, used a private jet to spirit away cash, valuables and confidential documents mapping the corporate web behind his wealth.

Yasar Ibrahim, the president's top economic adviser, arranged the leasing of the plane to transport Assad's treasured assets, relatives, aides and presidential palace personnel to the United Arab Emirates aboard four flights, according to an account of the operation pieced together by Reuters from more than a dozen sources.