Israel signs order to seize $4 million transferred from Iran to Hamas
Funds sent to develop terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, Defense Ministry states
Israel’s Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz signed Tuesday an order to seize four million dollars transferred from Iran to Gaza’s ruling faction Hamas, the Defense Ministry announced in a statement.
At the recommendation of the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF), Gantz signed the decree in the attempt to foil funds for developing terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, as well as paying salaries to Hamas members.
The order is aimed against Gazan businessman Zuhir Shamalch and his money-changing firm, “Al-Mutahadun.”
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A similar order was signed in February, 2020. But following the move, the Gaza company began operating under the name, “Al-Markaziya Lil-Sirafa.”
The new order, the ministry noted, stipulated both names and the details of the company.
Businessman Shamalch replaced Hamas’ previous money-changer, Hamad al-Khodari, who was a close ally to Hamas’ military leader Yahya Sinwar, and was killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in May, 2019.