The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently announced the seizure of over $200,000 in cryptocurrency connected to Hamas-related wallets and exchange accounts. This action is part of a continuous effort to cut off financial resources for the militant organization, which has reportedly received over $1.5 million in donations from its supporters worldwide since last October.
Key Points:
- The funds were allegedly routed through a sophisticated money laundering scheme involving multiple transactions and exchanges.
- The accounts were promoted within a group allegedly associated with Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and the European Union.
“These seizures show that this office will search high and low for every cent of money going to fund Hamas, wherever it is found, and in whatever form of currency,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “Hamas is responsible for the death of many U.S. and Israeli nationals, and we will stop at nothing to stop their campaign of terror and murder.”
Approximately $90,000 originated from a variety of wallets, while an additional $112,000 was captured from exchange accounts reportedly owned by Palestinian individuals based in Turkey and other locations.
The U.S. Treasury has previously sanctioned financial networks linked to Hamas and closed accounts associated with these operations. Recent reports reveal that Hamas has been utilizing cryptocurrencies since at least 2020 to reduce the risks of physically transferring cash and to evade scrutiny from financial institutions.
