RAMALLAH, (Palestine Foundation Information Center ) Israeli occupation forces (IOF) announced on Wednesday that they confiscated approximately 1.5 million shekels ($447,000) during a raid targeting a Palestinian exchange office, claiming it was transferring funds to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
The IOF raided the exchange office in central Ramallah on Tuesday, an operation that included gunfire and, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, resulted in 27 injuries.
The IOF regularly conducts raids across the West Bank, with the activity intensifying following the outbreak of war with Hamas in Gaza on October 7, 2023. However, incursions into central Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, remain relatively rare.
A spokesperson for the Israeli police said that Border Police and army forces “raided an exchange office in the heart of Ramallah that was allegedly used to transfer funds to the Hamas terrorist organization,” according to their claim.
The forces confiscated large sums in local and foreign currencies, totaling approximately 1.528 million shekels, including US, European, Jordanian, and other banknotes.
The spokesperson alleged that the funds were intended to “finance terrorism,” adding that nine suspects accused of involvement in “terrorist activities” were arrested and transferred along with the seized evidence for investigation.
