The Financial Mastermind Behind Hamas: Zaher Jabarin’s Rise to Power

The Financial Mastermind Behind Hamas: Zaher Jabarin’s Rise to Power

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In the intricate world of global terrorism, individuals often play pivotal roles in shaping the destiny of terrorist organizations. One such figure is Zaher Jabarin, a former Hamas cell leader turned financial mastermind, who now oversees a vast financial empire estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, as was recently reported by the New York Times. Jabarin’s influence extends beyond orchestrating financial transactions; he is believed to be the linchpin in Hamas’s financial relationship with Iran, managing the flow of cash to the Gaza Strip and playing a critical role in funding the group’s operations against Israel.

Zaher Jabarin is a former Hamas terrorist.

But now, as the “CEO” of Hamas, he is responsible for funding terror.

He works out of an office building in Istanbul, where he lives under the protection of Türkiye’s President Erdogan.

When someone in his network needs a new name or… pic.twitter.com/OyAk8M5MBn

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 4, 2024

Zaher Jabarin’s journey began in the 1980s when he led a Hamas terror cell, even borrowing money from his mother to purchase weapons, according to the WSJ report.  However, his trajectory took a different turn, evolving into a key player in Hamas’s financial dealings. Today, at 55 years old, Jabarin is described as the “CEO of Hamas,” a testament to the central role he plays in steering the terror organization’s financial affairs.

Jabarin’s responsibilities include overseeing a portfolio of companies that generate annual income for Hamas. He manages the financial relationship with Iran, the primary benefactor of the organization, and directs a network of private donors and businessmen who invest on behalf of Hamas. According to information provided in the WSJ report, his control over Hamas’s finances is so significant that security officials from both the U.S. and Israel believe he played a crucial role in enabling the October 7 attacks by facilitating funds for weapons and fighters’ wages.

Zaher Jabarin’s influence is further highlighted by his close association with Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas official who was recently killed in a Beirut explosion attributed to Israel. The WSJ reported that both Jabarin and al-Arouri played key roles in founding Hamas’s military wing in the Judea and Samaria region of Israel, also known as the West Bank and maintained close ties with Iran. Al-Arouri even wrote the introduction to a book published by Jabarin after his release from prison, emphasizing their commitment to the path of jihad.

The Hamas ‘CEO’ who payrolled October 7 rapists and murderers: Former gang leader Zaher Jabarin runs terror group’s financial operations from Turkish office and runs half-a-billion-dollar empire https://t.co/jAfCntqFkz pic.twitter.com/9CmPDLGRR7

— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) January 5, 2024

Jabarin’s ability to navigate through layers of Western sanctions has allowed him to utilize financial systems in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and more recently, Turkey, as was indicated in the WSJ report. Through these networks, he establishes companies and facilitates the movement of money into Gaza.

Despite Hamas being designated as a terrorist organization by Washington, the group continues to receive support in the Arab and Muslim world as a proponent of the Palestinian cause. The report in the WSJ also said that the enduring financial flows orchestrated by individuals like Jabarin exemplify the difficulties the U.S. and Israel encounter in shutting down funding to terrorist groups, showcasing the resilience of financial networks supporting terrorism.

Under Jabarin’s leadership, Hamas’s financial office operates discreetly from a dark-glass windowed building in Istanbul. As was noted in the WSJ report, U.S. sanctions against Hamas officials and related companies reveal the group’s involvement in various enterprises, including shares in a real estate firm listed on Turkey’s stock exchange.

In an interview, Jabarin acknowledged the honor of securing funds for Hamas but vehemently denied personally raising money, dismissing it as an accusation rather than a fact, the WSJ reported. He asserted that he is now part of Hamas, the political party, distancing himself from the organization’s military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. According to Jabarin, Israel attempts to blur the lines between the political and military wings of Hamas, emphasizing that the military wing operates independently from the political party.

Turkey has consistently maintained that it does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and distinguishes between its military and political wings. The report in the WSJ indicated that Ankara asserts that legitimate Turkish businesses do not finance Hamas’s military operations, and its financial system remains untouched by abuse. However, the Turkish government did not respond to requests for comment.

Jabarin has cultivated relationships with individuals close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, allegedly aiding Hamas in procuring weapons and funding. Notably, Jabarin has played a role in maintaining Hamas’s ties with Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, collaborating with money changers to facilitate financial flows, as per the WSJ report. Recent reports suggest that Iran has transferred tens of millions of dollars to Hamas via money changers, utilizing the hawala system and, more recently, cryptocurrencies.

Released from prison in 2011 as part of a deal that freed over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails including current Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Jabarin’s trajectory has seen him ascend within Hamas outside the Palestinian territories. The report in the WSJ said that while Sinwar rose through the ranks in Gaza, Jabarin established himself as a key figure in the organization’s financial dealings, navigating complex international networks.

Jabarin’s journey from a youth involved in the first intifada to the alleged financial mastermind behind Hamas is a story that spans decades of conflict, resistance, and evolving roles within the organization, as was indicated in the WSJ report.  Born in 1968 in Salfit, a town in the northern West Bank, Jabarin’s trajectory took him from writing anti-occupation graffiti to becoming a key figure responsible for managing Hamas’s finances, orchestrating deals with Iran, and negotiating on behalf of the group.

Meet #ZaherJabarin, 55, responsible #Hamas financials.
He was once jailed for murder and borrowed money from his mother to buy guns. https://t.co/9tqfCLKxoX

— Banafsheh Zand بنفشه پورزند (@zanditon) January 5, 2024

In his late teens, Jabarin led a group of youths named “The Shooting Squads” during the first intifada in 1987. As the violence escalated, the group sought funds for weapons, with members selling cars and jewelry to finance their activities, the WSJ reported.  In a notable turn of events, Jabarin borrowed money from his mother to support the cause, showcasing the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of their goals.

One of Jabarin’s significant contributions to Hamas was recruiting Yahya Ayyash, who specialized in studying how to make improvised explosive devices. However, Jabarin’s involvement in resistance activities led to his arrest by Israeli forces over the killing of an Israeli soldier. Subsequently, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The report in the WSJ said that during his incarceration, Jabarin continued to play a role within the Hamas network, according to a former prison official who spent time with him.

Jabarin’s current role as Hamas’s unofficial finance chief is a position of significant trust and authority. His responsibilities extend beyond managing the financial relationship with Iran to overseeing a portfolio of companies that generate income for the organization, as was reported by the WSJ. Despite the U.S. imposing sanctions in response to the October 7 attacks attributed to Hamas, funding from Iran and private donors has reportedly continued.

During his time in prison, Jabarin exhibited resilience and a commitment to self-improvement. He learned Hebrew, pursued higher education, and became one of the Hamas members responsible for managing the welfare of fellow prisoners, the WSJ report said. His intellectual pursuits culminated in the publication of a book, released a year after his release in 2011, providing insights into his experiences and perspectives.

Jabarin’s imprisonment coincided with a transformative period for Hamas. The group, once a fringe Palestinian movement, emerged as the most popular faction in the West Bank and Gaza, the report in the WSJ said. Winning elections in 2006 for the Palestinian Authority’s legislature marked a pivotal moment, leading to an international boycott as Israel and the global community responded to Hamas’s ascent to power.

By 2007, Hamas had seized control of Gaza, establishing itself as a governing authority with the ability to levy taxes. This shift bolstered the group’s financial capabilities, allowing it to raise funds independently. As was indicated in the WSJ report, during Jabarin’s imprisonment, Hamas strategically created a network of companies that not only generated income but also served as conduits for money laundering, dissociating the cash from direct association with the group.

Under intense pressure from U.S. sanctions, Hamas’s initial financial base in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, faced disruptions. Saudi Arabia, responding to sanctions, forced Hamas’s finance officials to leave Jeddah, the WSJ report said. Subsequently, Jabarin found a new hub for the organization’s financial empire in Turkey, where he received support from Turkish associates.

In Turkey, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan known for supporting Islamist movements, Jabarin expanded the business empire. Reports indicate that he utilized his position to purchase and rent properties, including commercial and residential spaces, and acquire luxury vehicles. According to the WSJ report, the financial operations in Turkey allegedly became a central node for funding attacks against Israelis, implicating Jabarin in covert financial activities.

In 2018, Israel’s domestic security services conducted an investigation resulting in the arrest of a Turkish academic accused of collaborating with Hamas. The WSJ reported noted that the probe uncovered Jabarin’s role in providing substantial sums of cash for al-Qassam operatives in the West Bank, illustrating his active involvement in financing operations against Israelis.

Working in tandem with other Hamas officials, Jabarin played a pivotal role in developing a vast real estate portfolio in Turkey, constituting a significant portion of the group’s estimated $500 million worth of global assets, the report said. The portfolio included stakes in companies located in Algeria and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Despite the imposition of sanctions, there has been limited response from these countries.

Among the assets linked to Hamas’s financial network, Trend GYO, a real estate developer listed on the Turkish stock exchange, stands out. The U.S. Treasury, sanctioning the firm in May 2022, alleged that 75% of Trend GYO was owned by front men for Hamas, according to the WSJ report. The Turkish government reportedly granted citizenship and a new identity to one of Trend’s founders. While Trend has denied any association with Hamas, the U.S. contends that the company’s transparency obligations as a listed firm do not guarantee prevention of fund transfers to unofficial organizations.

Despite the imposition of sanctions on Trend GYO and outreach to Ankara, the Turkish government by U.S. officials, for action against the company, there has been minimal impact on Jabarin’s ability to move money. The sanctions’ limited efficacy raises concerns about the challenges in curbing Hamas’s financial activities, particularly when intertwined with legitimate businesses.

Jabarin’s recent presence in Beirut has raised eyebrows, as he nurtures Hamas’s relationship with Tehran’s Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, and engages with money changers in the city. According to the WSJ report, the U.S. has sanctioned a Lebanese money changer working with Hezbollah for transferring millions from Iran to Hamas’s military wing. Israel remains apprehensive about the effectiveness of such designations, expressing concerns over Jabarin’s continued ability to maneuver funds.

The international landscape presents challenges in curbing Hamas’s financial operations. While the U.S. and its allies strive to impose sanctions and restrictions, there are limitations in influencing countries like Lebanon, which express a lack of intention to interfere with Hamas’s presence on their soil, the WSJ reported. The complex interplay of political dynamics and differing stances on the issue underscores the difficulty in achieving a unified front against Hamas’s financial activities.