Hamas calls for financial donations via Bitcoin

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Palestinian group Hamas on Sunday made a call for financial donations to the resistance through the digital currency Bitcoin.

The call comes amid rising tensions across the Palestinian territories after Israeli police last week forcibly removed worshippers from inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem.

The Israeli raids on the flashpoint site triggered rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, with Israel retaliating with air and artillery shelling.

“It is now possible to directly deliver support to the resistance through Bitcoin,” the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, said in a statement.

This was not the first time the Qassam Brigades called for financial donations via Bitcoin. Similar calls were made in 2019 and 2021.

Unlike traditional currency, Bitcoin and other virtual currencies do not have a serial number and are not subject to the control of governments and central banks. They are only dealt with via the internet, without physical presence.

*Ikram Kouachi contributed to this report