Hamas announces 500-shekel payments to tens of thousands of ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ widows Hamas plans to disburse 500 shekels – some US $160 – to every widow of those killed in the “Al-Aqsa Flood War,” the group announced Wednesday. Payment would be made to as many as 50,000 widowed families, it said, amounting to total disbursements of some 25 million shekels (US $8 million). Though not stated explicitly in the statement, it was widely understood in Gaza that the reference to “Al-Aqsa Flood” meant the lion’s share of aid would go to the widows of Hamas members.