On April 26, 2023, the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas, announced on its official website that it is no longer accepting donations via the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. The organization explained that it made the decision "out of concern for the safety of donors and to not expose them to any harm, particularly in light of the intensification of harassment and the redoubling of hostile efforts against anyone who tries to support the resistance using this currency."
For years, Al-Qassam has solicited funds via Bitcoin, among other methods.[2] As recently as April 10, 2023, the group issued a call for Bitcoin donations.
Although not stated explicitly by Al-Qassam, it is likely that the immediate trigger for discontinuing Bitcoin donations was an April 21 order signed by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, calling for the immediate seizure of digital accounts affiliated with Hamas, based on a law allowing the confiscation of funds from those doing business with designated terrorist organizations. Following Gallant's order, Israel's National Commission for Combating Economic Terrorism seized more than 80 accounts and over 100 digital wallets, with contents totaling half a million shekels (about $135,500).
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