Israel arrests 21 Palestinians in West Bank for funding Hamas terror group

(JNS) Israeli forces have arrested 21 Palestinians in the West Bank overnight suspected of involvement in financing the Hamas terrorist organisation and confiscated over $2.7 million in funds, the military said on Thursday morning.

IDF soldiers, the Israel Police’s National Cyber Crime Unit (part of Lahav 433) and the Israel Border Police conducted the joint operation under the direction of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and IDF Central Command intelligence.

The raids were conducted after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant designated five foreign exchange offices as terrorist organisations due to their funnelling money to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza. They are Halhol, Beit al-Maqdes, al-Fakhr, al-Ajoli and Noor al-Hada.

Nine branches of the foreign exchanges were raided during the overnight operation.