Reports from the French newspaper, Le Monde, reveal that armed groups, one allegedly linked to Hamas, looted about 66 million euros (around $71 million) from branches of the Palestine Bank in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing conflict between the movement and Israel.
According to Le Monde, the bank sent a communication to its international partners detailing the sophisticated robbery operations, with one targeting its main branch in Gaza City.
In response to inquiries, the Palestinian Monetary Authority, responsible for overseeing the financial system in the Palestinian territories, confirmed it would release a statement later on addressing the matter.
On April 16, bank employees discovered a breach in the ceiling of the secure room. Criminals made away with funds from ATMs stocked with Israeli shekel banknotes, totaling 2.8 million euros.
The following day, armed groups returned equipped with explosives, successfully accessing three safes containing a total of 29 million euros in various currencies.
Subsequently, on April 18, another attack targeted the bank’s prominent branch in the city center, with a group claiming affiliation with Gaza’s highest authorities, likely referring to Hamas. They seized an additional 33.6 million euros in Israeli shekels.
Meanwhile, Israeli military forces confiscated a significant sum of money from the same financial institution in Gaza. Israeli media reports in February suggested that this operation aimed to prevent Hamas from gaining control of the funds.
The Palestine Bank faces significant challenges in safeguarding its cash reserves amidst the conflict and ensuring access to funds for Gaza residents.
Only two ATMs remain operational, located in Rafah and Deir al-Balah, supplied with electricity intermittently.
Residents of Gaza report instances of masked gunmen demanding a percentage of cash withdrawals from customers at these ATMs, highlighting the complex security situation in the region.
