Israel Says It Uncovered Iran-Backed Hamas Finance Network Operating in Turkey

Israeli military and intelligence services say they have exposed a covert Hamas money-exchange network operating from central Turkey that allegedly ran under Iranian direction, according to documents and public statements released this week.

What Was Revealed

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) claim exiled Gazans in Turkey used the country’s financial infrastructure to move large sums for Hamas, with transfers they describe as totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Released records include entries for currency transfers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, which Israeli officials say represent only a fraction of the network’s overall activity.

Operatives Identified

The agencies named three Gazan operatives they say were central to the operation in Turkey: Tamer Hassan, described as a senior official in Hamas’s finance office in Turkey reporting directly to Khalil al-Hayya; and two currency exchangers, Khalil Farwana and Farid Abu Dair. According to the IDF and ISA, the network received, held, and forwarded Iranian funds to Hamas and to senior leaders, and helped the group re-establish capabilities beyond the Gaza Strip.

Analysts’ Views

Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey specialist at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Ankara’s political sheltering of Hamas combined with its condemnation of Israeli military steps has created a permissive sanctuary that Israeli pressure alone may not dismantle. Ciddi warned that Iran’s economic embedding in Turkey could enable a regional proxy to regenerate and project force.

“If left unchecked, the network could fuel future attacks and expand Hamas’s influence across the region, undermining Israel’s war aims and long-term security,” Ciddi said.

Gonul Tol, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Turkey’s posture on Gaza is closely tied to domestic politics and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political positioning. Tol also noted that Turkish officials have shown pragmatism in dealings with Washington and that, according to people close to Erdoğan, Hamas figures were at times quietly asked to leave Turkey to avoid straining relations with the U.S.

Wider Implications

The disclosures come amid an active U.S. debate over Turkey’s regional role and its ties to Hamas, including whether Ankara should play a part in any postwar stabilization mission in Gaza. Israeli authorities say the newly released intelligence highlights the risks of permitting deeper Turkish involvement in Gaza’s future if external networks remain active.

Official Warnings And Response

The IDF and ISA warned individuals and institutions against engaging with the exposed network or any financial arms linked to Hamas, saying such interactions risk contributing to terrorist financing and aiding attempts to rebuild Hamas’s infrastructure abroad. The Turkish Embassy did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.