IDF Spokeswoman Warns Gaza Residents Against Hamas Using Soon-Invalid Old Banknotes

The IDF Arabic spokeswoman, Ella Awya, issued an unusual warning on Monday to residents of the Gaza Strip about a deceptive practice by Hamas. She alerted them that Hamas is paying its operatives with old banknotes from Israel's Bank of Israel Series B, which are soon to lose their validity. Awya urged Gaza residents to "open their eyes" to this economic fraud, explaining that the old bills could become worthless at any moment.

Awya clarified that the Bank of Israel, responsible for issuing the currency, recommends exchanging the old Series B notes for new ones, and most of the old bills have already been replaced. Those still holding the old notes face a severe financial risk as these bills will soon be invalid. She accused Hamas leadership of exploiting the residents' hardship by offloading these soon-to-be worthless notes onto them while keeping the new bills for themselves.

She further stated that even some Hamas operatives receive their salaries in the old notes, while the leaders retain the new currency, prioritizing their own interests and leaving field operatives and civilians to bear the losses. Awya concluded by urging Gaza residents not to accept salaries or make payments with the old banknotes and to resist Hamas’s attempts to impose the financial losses on them.