Israel eliminates two operators of Hamas’ financial network in Gaza — army
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency announced on Wednesday that they had eliminated Khader Jamasi, the head of Hamas’s funds transfer network in the Gaza Strip, along with his deputy, Muhammad Harazin, in a joint operation conducted on Sunday in northern Gaza. According to Israeli authorities, Jamasi and Harazin were central to Hamas’s financial operations, overseeing transfer of tens of millions of dollars to the group’s military wing through a network of money exchangers operating across the Gaza Strip. These funds were used to pay salaries to Hamas operatives and support planning and execution of attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets.
The elimination of Jamasi and Harazin is part of Israel’s broader campaign to dismantle Hamas’s financial infrastructure, aimed at weakening operational capabilities. Israeli officials have previously targeted other senior Hamas financial figures, including Firas Mashharawi and Ihab Khrizim, over the past year. The U.S. Treasury has also imposed sanctions on Hamas operatives and financial facilitators, targeting individuals and entities involved in managing the group’s secret investment portfolio and virtual currency exchange activities.
The IDF emphasized that Hamas’s financial network plays a crucial role in sustaining its military activities, and the elimination of key figures like Jamasi and Harazin represents significant disruption to funding. The operation relied on intelligence and precision strikes to neutralize the financial infrastructure that has long enabled Hamas to maintain its presence in Gaza (neutralize the financial infrastructure).
This development comes amid ongoing Israeli efforts to enforce a U.S.-backed 20-point plan, which requires Hamas to disarm and accept certain political conditions for a lasting ceasefire. Israeli officials have stated that Hamas has failed to meet these requirements, citing continued refusal to disarm. The targeting of financial operatives aligns with Israel’s broader strategy to degrade Hamas’s capacity to conduct attacks and maintain its influence in the region (degrade Hamas's capacity).
The elimination of Jamasi and Harazin underscores the increasing focus on financial warfare as a critical component of counterterrorism efforts. As Hamas faces growing financial strain, its ability to sustain military operations and pay its fighters may be further compromised by financial strain. This could have long-term implications for the group’s stability and operational effectiveness, particularly as Israel continues to target its financial networks and disrupt its revenue sources.
