WASHINGTON (TNND) — U.S. federal officials have confiscated over $560,000 in cryptocurrency donations aimed at Hamas. This week, the Justice Department also revealed it had taken control of various website domains and platforms utilized for fundraising and recruiting efforts.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced on social media that authorities had intercepted $560,000 in cryptocurrency meant for Hamas. Investigators also obtained the identities of thousands of individuals attempting to donate to the terrorist organization.
“Your networks are not secure, your cryptocurrency is at risk, and we will continue our efforts until we dismantle your capacity to wage war once and for all,” Pirro stated in a video shared on social media.
She explained that key infrastructure was seized to disrupt Hamas’ fundraising and recruitment operations.
“By taking control of their servers and domains, we were able to directly block funds intended for the military wing of Hamas, known as the Al-Qassam Brigade,” she noted.
According to FBI filings related to the seizures, since around 2019, Hamas, through its military division, the Al-Qassam Brigades, began experimenting with fundraising via cryptocurrency, initially soliciting donations on its Telegram channel before moving to its official websites. The documents indicate that the Al-Qassam Brigades claimed bitcoin donations were untraceable and would be used for violent purposes, with detailed instructions on how to make anonymous contributions available on their sites.
Justin A. Garris, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, told The National News Desk on Wednesday that the confiscation of cryptocurrency could significantly impact the organization’s operations.
“Our ability to seize that cryptocurrency weakens their capacity to replenish their military resources and recruit new members. It’s a crucial development,” Garris remarked.
Although Garris, who coordinated the latest investigation, could not disclose specific details, he noted that authorities have been proactive over the past 18 months, and the investigation spans a longer timeline.
“We have much more to accomplish to ensure accountability for others involved, and we’re collaborating with both domestic and international partners to see this through,” he said.
Garris also indicated that the $560,000 seizure might represent just a small portion of the overall funding efforts. “We believe there are additional funds out there, and we will diligently work to seize those as well,” he added.
In addition to this recent operation, U.S. authorities have also disrupted cryptocurrency fundraising initiatives related to not only Hamas but also al-Qaida and ISIS, including a significant coordinated action in 2020.