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Hamas-Linked Crypto Accounts Frozen, Israel Takes a Stand Against Terror Financing

Asia
Martin Freiberger, October 10, 2023

In a bold move to combat terrorism financing, Israeli police have frozen cryptocurrency accounts connected to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. With the assistance of Binance, a leading crypto exchange, Israeli authorities are cracking down on illicit funding sources, bringing them one step closer to dismantling terrorist networks.

A War of Cryptocurrencies in the Midst of Conflict

The recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified, with Hamas launching multiple attacks on Israel. As tensions rise, Israel's defense minister has ordered a complete siege of the Palestinian enclave Gaza. In response, Israeli law enforcement has taken action against Hamas-linked crypto accounts in an effort to disrupt and eliminate their financial resources.

A Collaborative Effort to Uncover Terror Funding

Israeli police's cyber division, Lahav 433, joined forces with the country's defense ministry, intelligence agencies, and crypto exchange Binance to target the accounts involved. This coordinated effort demonstrates the commitment of Israeli authorities to dismantle terrorist financing networks and ensure national security. Any funds seized from these accounts will be directed towards the Israeli national treasury, further enhancing their fight against terrorism.

Binance's Ongoing Battle Against Terror Financing

This is not the first time Binance has played a pivotal role in combating terrorism through its platform. In 2021, Israeli authorities seized approximately 190 Binance accounts linked to terrorist groups. Binance has also partnered with Israeli authorities in the past to dismantle a terrorism financing operation associated with Iran's Quds Force and Hezbollah.

In light of this recent development, Binance's CEO, Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, faced a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Commodities Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC) in March. The CFTC alleged that Binance officers were aware of "HAMAS transactions" on the platform. Binance remains committed to its ongoing efforts to combat terror financing and enhance global security.

"Over the past few days, our team has been working in real-time, around the clock to support ongoing efforts to combat terror financing. We are committed to ensuring the safety and security not just of the blockchain ecosystem, but also the global community, through our proactive work," stated a spokesperson for Binance.

Conclusion

The freezing of Hamas-linked crypto accounts demonstrates Israel's determination to disrupt terrorist financial networks. Collaborative efforts between Israeli authorities and Binance further highlight the importance of vigilance in the cryptocurrency industry to safeguard against illicit activities. By taking a stand against terror financing, Israel sets an example for other countries in the fight against terrorism.

Martin Freiberger, October 10, 2023
Source: Coindesk

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