Israeli intelligence agencies have unveiled evidence of a clandestine financial network operated by Hamas in Turkey, allegedly directed by Iran and responsible for funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to the terrorist group. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) disclosed the details on December 7, 2025, citing captured Hamas documents that expose how Gazan expatriates in Turkey exploit the country's financial infrastructure to receive, store, and transfer Iranian funds directly to Hamas leaders and operatives. IDF Arabic spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee announced the findings on social media, emphasizing that the network represents only a fraction of Hamas's broader economic operations abroad.
The operation is led by individuals of Gazan origin, including Tamer Hassan, a senior official in Hamas's de facto finance ministry who reports directly to Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent Hamas political bureau member. Also implicated are money changers Khalil Farwana (or Fraoneh) and Farid Abu Dayer (or Abu Dayr), who handle the logistics of laundering and distributing the funds in full cooperation with Iranian handlers. According to the documents, these operatives manage extensive economic activities in central Turkey, channeling vast sums to support Hamas's rebuilding efforts outside Gaza amid the ongoing conflict that has devastated the territory since the October 7, 2023, attacks.
This revelation comes against a backdrop of longstanding Iranian financial support for Hamas, which has provided the group with an estimated $100 million annually in recent years through various covert channels, including cryptocurrencies and hawala systems, to sustain its military infrastructure. Turkey's role as a hub for such activities has drawn scrutiny, particularly as Ankara positions itself as a mediator in the Israel-Hamas war while hosting Hamas political figures and maintaining economic ties with Tehran. Israeli officials warn that the network enables Hamas to pursue terrorist plots beyond Gaza, including in the West Bank and abroad, despite heavy losses inflicted by Israeli operations.
Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, sharply criticized Iran and implicitly Turkey, stating on social media that "the Iranian regime continues to be deeply involved in terrorism and corruption," and questioning how a NATO member could facilitate such activities. The exposure has reignited debates over international pressure on Turkey to crack down on Hamas-linked entities on its soil, with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid arguing it underscores the need to exclude Ankara from postwar Gaza reconstruction efforts. As the conflict persists, these disclosures highlight the challenges in disrupting Hamas's global financial lifelines and the geopolitical tensions they exacerbate.