Netanyahu ignored calls to disrupt Hamas finances, claims ex-Mossad official
February 26, 2024 7 Comments
A RETIRED SENIOR MOSSAD official has alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly ignored, and even frustrated, efforts to stop the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas. This inaction may have enabled the Palestinian militant group to plan, organize and execute Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which killed over 1400 Israelis on October 7, 2023, and sparked the current war between Israel and Hamas.
The allegation was made by Udi Levy, a 30-year veteran of the Israeli intelligence community, who served as an intelligence officer in the Israel Defense Forces before being appointed to head the Economic Warfare Division of the Mossad, Israel’s external intelligence agency. During his tenure in the Mossad, which ended with his retirement in 2016, Levy was a member of Task Force Harpoon, which aimed to disrupt the flow of funds to militant Palestinian groups, including Hamas.
Last week, Levy told the BBC’s flagship investigative television program Panorama that Task Force Harpoon had identified around 40 companies in the Middle East and North Africa, which were part of Hamas’ investment portfolio. These companies, based in countries such as Sudan, Algeria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, were active in the areas of real estate, mining, construction, and tourism, among others. Some of the companies were even directly controlled by Hamas, said Levy.
The income from these financial investments allowed Hamas to use “billions, not millions” of dollars to build its military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, according to the former Mossad official. That investment income was supplemented with direct cash infusions from Iran and Qatar, which in some cases arrived monthly through special envoys, according to Levy. He added that Turkey was “a critical focal point” in Hamas’ money network, as it served as a financial hub for the militant group’s holdings.
Levy told the BBC that he personally advised Netanyahu to “target Hamas’ finances” and explained to him that “Israel had the means to crush Hamas by using only financial tools”. However, Levy claims that, not only did the Israeli prime minister ignore Levy’s advice, but he proceeded to shut down the Mossad’s Task Force Harpoon. This is not the first time that Levy has made these claims. In December 2023, he told The New York Times that Task Force Harpoon analysts were so frustrated with the Israeli government’s inertia, that they resorted to “uploading some documents to Facebook” in hopes that the Israeli authorities would be forced to take action once details about Hamas’ finances were disclosed.
► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis | Date: 26 February 2024 | Permalink
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The point of the Sharon government’s decision to establish a Balestinian state in Gaza: to give the Arabs a “piece of the action”, to operate as an Independent State. Recall that Bibi opposed PM Sharon on his decision. PM Begin made a similar political calculation to return the Sinai back to Egypt, for the 2nd time, to validate the Egyptian state in order to cut a Peace. The Camp David Accords served as the model for PM Sharon to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza. The ‘orange ribbons’ served as a protest which took Israel to the edge of the cliff of Civil War!
But once done – its done. PM Bibi does not involve Israel in Egyptian or Syrian weapons and acquisitions. Israel has yet to bomb an Iranian nuclear reactor. If Iran set off a nuclear explosion test, would Israel declare war? I do not know.
PM Bibi gave Hamas enough rope to hang themselves. That Israel conquers an Arab country, the first time in the history of the Jewish state that Israel fights a war to totally conquer an Arab state. Even the quasi-Arab state of Gaza! This game changer radically changes the balance of power in the Middle East. Herein explains why countries like both France and Turkey so radically oppose this war that demands the unconditional surrender of the Hamas government.
To employ a metaphor: Israel conquering a Arab country: the shit has it the fan; the fox in the chicken coop has the feathers flying. This war has totally discredited the UN! Another first in international politics. Same holds true with the Red Cross-Double Cross. From South Africa to China, the total unconditional surrender of Hamas & Islamic Jihad in Gaza, radically changes the balance of power in the Middle East vis a vis other great powers.
So in 2016 Udi Levy, a 30-year veteran of the Israeli intelligence community, retires holding a grudge against (even then) Prime Minister Netanyahu. Netanyahu didn’t accept Levy’s claim that “Israel had the means to crush Hamas by using only financial tools”.
It seems Israel could have disrupted some income flows to Hamas but:
1. Hamas’ main financier, Iran, would have many ways to get around Israel’s efforts, and
2. as the BBC revealed $Billions more in aid to Gaza was being supplied by sources Israel couldn’t block, specifically UN agencies and the EU https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68318856
Having retired from the Israeli intelligence community 7 years before Hamas’ October 7, 2023 operation Levy would have lost much of his access to goings on in Mossad.
Also for broader Israeli foreign policy reasons Netanyahu could not act on all the hard-nosed economic warfare advice Mossad may have been pushing in 2016 and maybe after 2016.
I’m no fan of one sided Arm-Chairing-Quarterbacking… Levy has been after Netanyahu day one. Forty companies spread all around Israel’s neighbor is no easy task in shutting down, and a very good way in making even more enemies… Since 06′, Israel has done a better than average job in making new friends, and a lot of what is happen now, is do to that… As for Turkey, they have been dancing to their own tune for sometime, nothing Israel could do to change any of that. I’m surprised Levy didn’t mention Iran? We have a saying for that kind of intel: “Cherry Picking”.
You don’t have to read everything to believe him. First and last – Netanyahu is a pathological liar, a man that never commits and executes, a man with no real spine at all. In the last couple of years, full of fear of the consequences of his multi trials the man has been concentrating at salvaging himself and he does not really give much about all the rest.
He should ste4p down from office and be forgotten forever.
En source ouverte Dod,
Le Hamas a été désigné comme organisation terroriste par plusieurs pays et entités. Son réseau de soutien s’étend au-delà de Gaza, avec un soutien financier provenant apparemment de diverses sources, notamment de sympathisants de la diaspora palestinienne, d’organisations caritatives et de particuliers dans d’autres pays du Moyen-Orient, Qatar, Turquie, Russie, et au-delà.
Cela Cadre aussi avec de mauvaises Gouvernances, De L’union Européenne, DES ONG, et les décisions prises par nos décideurs européens.
Au niveau du Mossad, et de la Cia, M. Levy a en partie raison sur certains propos tenus lors de ses conversations avec M. Netanyahu, mais s’il tire aussi profit de la situation parc qu’il est en désaccords M. Netanyahu, pour l’heure….
Belle soirée à vous tous.
Pascal Lembree
[Pascal’s comment in French above Google Translated into English]
“reserve34 says:
February 29, 2024 at 13:39
In open source Dod,
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by several countries and entities. Its support network extends beyond Gaza, with financial support reportedly coming from a variety of sources, including supporters of the Palestinian diaspora, charities and individuals in other Middle Eastern countries, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, and beyond.
This also fits with bad governance, the European Union, NGOs, and the decisions taken by our European decision-makers.
At the level of Mossad and the CIA, Mr. Levy is partly right about certain comments made during his conversations with Mr. Netanyahu, but he also takes advantage of the situation because he disagrees with Mr. Netanyahu , for now….
Have a nice evening to all of you.
Pascal Lembree”
Why has Russia stationed troops and built military bases on the Syrian-Golan border? Israel plans to break off all diplomatic relations with the United Nations. The days of UN Peace-Keeping troops stationed on hot borders-over. Russia & Israel share diplomatic relations just as does Egypt & Israel. Egypt has placed a Division of troops and tanks on the border with Rafah. International relations conducted through diplomacy.
Far preferable to the farce of UN GA condemnations of Israel. Both Russia and Egypt do not desire the current Oct 7th Abomination War between Israel and the Hamas government of Gaza to expand, and include threats to the continued existence of the international status-quo borders, established by previous general-wars.
At the Camp David Peace Accords Sadat validated Gaza under the “serenity” of Israel. Russia does not recognize the Israeli nationalization of the Golan. However to change the status of disputed borders, of either Gaza or the Golan Heights, involves the explosion of a far bigger war. Another general war carries HUGE risks for both the winners & the losers of such an expanded war for both Egypt, Syria & Israel.
The Abraham Accords has destroyed the European post June ’67 War attempt to dictate a divide and conquer 2-State ‘Final’ Solution upon the Jewish people of Israel. The failure of the UN Apartheid: its refusal to recognize – only Israel – as a member-state of its own region, together with the UN Security Council 242 Resolution – abomination, these primary reasons, coupled with the UN aid & support of Hamas terrorism on Oct 7th, coupled with the blood libel slander — Genocide in Gaza — these many & multiple crimes, they caused the UN to cross the Red-Line of Israeli toleration for the post WWII restoration of Wilson’s League of Nations bankrupt & worthless successor.