Israel Seizes $2.5 Million From Five Exchanges In West Bank Over The Claim Of "Funding Hamas" (image @idfonline)

The Israeli occupation force seized approximately $2.5 million from five money exchange in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) said the occupation force raided the headquarters of six money exchange company and arrested number of the companies after blowing it up.

PMA called the act as violation of all international norms and laws, that aims to “undermine confidence in the Palestinian banking and banking sector”, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The occupation force called that action as a “counter-terrorism” move. The Israelis claim that these exchanges are involved in transferring funds to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

On its X (formerly twitter), Israeli Defence Force  (IDF) shared video of the raid and arrest and claimed that Tax Authority of Israel along with the Authority for the Prohibition of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, the Shin Bet, has conducted raid and arrested those “who are suspected of being involved in financing Hamas, in funds digital and cash as part of their activities as financial service provider”.

יחידת הסייבר בלהב 433 פתחה בחקירה משותפת עם צה״ל ופקמ״ז, הרשות לאיסור הלבנת הון ומימון טרור, שב״כ, מט״ל, מג״ב ורשות המיסים, נגד חשודים תושבי איו”ש בחשד כי הם מעורבים במימון החמאס, בכספים דיגיטליים ומזומנים במסגרת פעילותם כנותני שירותים פיננסיים>> pic.twitter.com/ge4wsY7a9t

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) December 28, 2023

While the Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank on any part where the Palestinian population reside is not a new scenario, the current frequency and intensity of the Israeli raids are huge. The rate of arrest has gone up since the Hamas attack on the occupation force on October 7^th. At least 313 Palestinians in the West Bank are killed by the Israeli force since October 7. Among those 313, 76 are reported to be children. Nearly 3,450 Palestinians in the West Banka re brutally injured by the attack from the Israeli force. Since October 7^th, around 4,800 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank were arrested.

United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk in a statement called the Israeli force to “end the unlawful killing” of the Palestinian population in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. He said, “the use of military tactics and weapons in law enforcement context, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of board, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that effect Palestinians are extremely troubling”.