To curb financial aid to the Palestinian militant group Hamas amid escalating violence, Binance teamed up with the cyber unit of Israel’s police. The collaboration has successfully led to the freezing of several cryptocurrency accounts believed to be linked to Hamas, significantly impacting the militant group’s fundraising campaigns. The tumultuous situation in Israel, characterized by a surge in violence and bloodshed, has seen an alarming increase in casualties, prompting governmental initiatives to sever all financial conduits to Hamas.
The recent joint endeavor saw Lahav 433’s cyber unit, working alongside the National Headquarters for Economic Counter-Terrorism under the Ministry of Defense, Shin Bet, and various intelligence agencies, tirelessly identifying cryptocurrency networks employed by terrorist factions for fundraising.
According to a press release, Hamas initiated a fundraising drive on social media after the flare-up of hostilities, urging the public to contribute cryptocurrencies. Swift action by the cyber unit and the National Headquarters, with the crucial assistance of Binance, led to the prompt identification and freezing of the accounts, directing the funds towards the state treasury.
Binance’s spokesperson reiterated the platform’s unwavering resolve to work in tandem with global law enforcement bodies and regulators, aiming to mitigate terrorist financing while bolstering the safety of the blockchain ecosystem along with the global community.
The accounts in question, reportedly orchestrated by Hamas, have been fervently engaged in fundraising via numerous social media outlets since the onset of the weekend. Binance’s real-time, incessant efforts, executed “around the clock,” have been instrumental in supporting ongoing ventures to counter terrorist financing.
This partnership highlights the cryptocurrency sector’s dedication to upholding security and compliance standards, actively partaking in ventures to thwart illicit activities within the crypto space.
Additional joint operations aim to curtail financial support to militants
Besides the fruitful collaboration with Binance, the Israeli Police Cyber Unit has extended its cooperative efforts to law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom. This partnership aimed to obstruct a Barclays Bank account in the UK, which Hamas had explicitly cited for donations.
Moreover, the cryptocurrency’s growing role in the ongoing conflict is apparent, as demonstrated by the Web3 community in Israel launching the “Crypto Aid Israel” cryptocurrency relief fund. This initiative seeks to amass financial aid for Israeli citizens in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
