US Seizes $560,000 in Crypto Linked to Hamas
The US Department of Justice has announced that it has seized $560,000 in cryptocurrency linked to Hamas, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. The funds were raised for terrorist operations and used to recruit supporters online.
US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated that 'a message to Hamas: We will stop your fundraising for terror.' The Department of Justice disrupted Hamas' fundraising and recruitment communication platforms and websites as part of the operation.
The seized cryptocurrency was controlled by Hamas' military wing, the Al Qassam Brigades. The FBI's Albuquerque Field Office collaborated with human sources to identify and seize domains and servers used by the group.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg emphasized that 'these seizures deprive Hamas of resources it relies on to recruit and radicalize individuals online and finance barbaric attacks.'