Israeli Forces Seize Hundreds of Thousands in Cash and Assets from Terrorists' Homes in East Jerusalem

On Wednesday morning, Israeli security forces from the Economic Warfare Headquarters against Terrorism (Mat'al) in the Ministry of Defense, alongside the Central Unit of the Jerusalem District Police, raided homes of terrorists and families of terrorists in East Jerusalem. These individuals had been released in previous hostage exchange deals but continued to receive payments from the Palestinian Authority. The raids resulted in the confiscation of vehicles, gold, and cash totaling hundreds of thousands of shekels.

Among those targeted were Muhammad Abd al-Rahman Abbad, involved in a 2002 attempted suicide bombing in Jerusalem, and Ahed Faiz Ali al-Natsheh, a Hamas operative linked to a 2001 car bomb plot in Pisgat Ze'ev and an attack at the Klal Center in Jerusalem that injured two police officers and ten civilians. The operation included the seizure of five vehicles, approximately 96,000 shekels in cash, and gold jewelry.

The confiscations were carried out under seizure orders issued by Defense Minister Israel Katz against security prisoners who are Israeli residents or citizens released in hostage deals but continue to receive financial rewards from the Palestinian Authority for their terrorist acts. This action was based on recommendations from Mat'al and conducted in cooperation with the Shin Bet and the police as part of a broad economic campaign by the Israeli security apparatus targeting terror organizations, their funding sources, and payment mechanisms to terrorists and their families.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the security forces will persist in exacting a heavy price from anyone involved in terrorism or benefiting from terror funds.