Desperate Hamas seeks way out of cash crisis

Thousands of Hamas followers gathered to donate money and jewellery to their cash-strapped government, while a Western boycott stirred debate inside the militant group over whether to accept a state alongside Israel.

The Hamas-led government has been under increasing economic pressure since taking office in March, with Israel halting millions in monthly tax transfers to the Palestinians, and the US and European Union freezing hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.