Israel Says Iran-Directed Hamas Network in Turkey Quietly Moved Hundreds of Millions to Terrorist Activities

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet on Sunday unveiled what they say is a sophisticated, Iran-directed Hamas financial network operating from inside Turkey, funneling vast sums to the terrorist group as it seeks to rebuild and expand its capabilities.

According to Israeli intelligence, the clandestine operation consists chiefly of Gazan expatriates embedded within Turkey’s financial system, where they allegedly receive, store, and transfer Iranian funds amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Newly released documents show only a fraction of the activity—transactions in the hundreds of thousands—but Israeli officials say the true scale is far larger.

Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, said the network represents a significant extension of Hamas’s international financial apparatus.

“IDF and the Shin Bet reveal a secret exchange network run by the Hamas terrorist organization in the heart of Turkey under Iranian direction,” Adraee said. “This network exploits the country’s financial systems for terrorist purposes.”

Three operatives of Gazan origin were identified as central players:

• Tamer Hassan, a senior Hamas Finance Ministry official living in Turkey, operating under the authority of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya.
• Khalil Farawneh, a money changer assisting with fund transfers.
• Fareed Abu Dayer, another key financial conduit inside the network.

Israeli authorities say these individuals act in “full cooperation with the Iranian regime,” ensuring that money originating in Iran flows unimpeded to Hamas’s military and political leadership.

Adraee noted that the revelations demonstrate Hamas’s continued pursuit of attacks against Israel, even as Gaza remains devastated by the conflict triggered by the group’s October 2023 massacre.

“Hamas, encouraged and supported by the Iranian regime, continues to pursue terrorist activity against Israel and to rebuild its capabilities even after bringing destruction upon the Gaza Strip,” he said. “And it is doing so from outside the territory as well.”

Both the IDF and Shin Bet issued a public warning to avoid any dealings with the exchange networks or financial entities tied to Hamas.

Israeli officials say more disclosures are expected as they continue to dismantle the organization’s overseas financial channels.

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