Israel wipes out top Hamas banker Subhi Ferwana who paid terrorists’ wages after troops find £1m in ‘stacks of cash’
ISRAEL says it has killed top Hamas banker Subhi Ferwana who funded the organisation’s terror activities.
In a surgical airstrike alongside the Shin Bet, an IDF warplane took out the financier in the middle of Rafah, Gaza.
Ferwana is said to have funnelled tens of millions through his company “Hamsat” to fund Hamas‘ military forces, including terrorist salaries and war activities.
In a military statement posted on X, Twitter, the IDF wrote: “Ferwana transferred funds to Hamas’ military wing during the war and was aware that these funds would be vital for continuing the wing’s ability to fight.
“The funds were used – among other things – for intensification of military forces, the payment of terrorists’ salaries during the war, and to finance Hamas’ war activities.
“The IDF, ISA and other security forces will continue their efforts to dismantle Hamas’ funding lifeline.”
According to the Israeli troops, Hamas terrorists’ ability to fight and rage war hugely depends on the “funds transferred to it through money changers”, and the killing of Ferwana will “significantly hit their fighting ability”.
In another shakedown, the IDF seized more than £1million in cash in a senior Hamas leader‘s house in northern Gaza.
Israel said these funds were “designated for terrorist activity”
For a long time, Hamas has been accused of stealing money from Palestinian aid to fund its military wing – and let its leaders enjoy a lavish lifestyle while people suffer in Gaza.
It has been alleged that al-Qassam Brigades, one of Hamas’ major terror factions, has an annual budget of more than £80million.
Also, another £32million is spent a year by the terror group maintaining the elaborate underground tunnel system, The Times of Israel has reported.
According to NBC News, Hamas allegedly makes hundreds of millions of pounds through trade with Iranian partners, cryptocurrency investments, taxes, extortion, and even smuggling.
It comes as the IDF destroyed a Hamas monument that was built to glorify a deadly attack on Israel by the terrorists during the 2014 Gaza War.
Troops from the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion captured “Palestine Square” in the Shejaiya neighbourhood before toppling the sick statue.
The sick monument was pulled down by Israel‘s famous Caterpillar D9 which is known as the world’s most indestructible bulldozer.
Meanwhile, the IDF says it captured a member of Hamas’ elite Nukhba forces and another terror operative at a school in Gaza City’s Rimal neighbourhood on Friday.
They were reportedly nabbed during a raid on the school where Israeli troops killed “many” more operatives, according to the IDF.
The elite Nukhba forces were the ones “ordered to kill everyone and burn their homes” in the October 7 massacre.
Elsewhere, the IDF found the biggest Hamas tunnel under Gaza yet — stretching almost three miles and reaching more than 150ft underground.
The entrance sits 400 yards from the Erez border crossing and is thought to have been used by terrorists fleeing back after slaughtering 1,200 people on October 7.
Huge boring equipment was smuggled into the Strip to build the sophisticated network of tunnels, with ventilation, electricity and hefty blast doors.
Israel Defence Forces said it did not find the latest one — big enough to drive a vehicle through — before the October massacre because it stops short of crossing from Gaza into Israel.
They say it was built on the orders of Mohammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
IDF spokesman Major Nir Dinar said: “It’s no surprise that this was the Hamas strategy all along.
“The surprise is that they have succeeded — and the size of this tunnel was really shocking.”