Azzam Aid, a charity established by Huthaifa Azzam, the son of an al-Qaeda founder and supporter of Hamas, has recently started accepting Bitcoin payments through two relatively unknown Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).
The charity's mechanism for accepting Bitcoin payments is notable for its sophistication, as it uses a circuitous payment channel that makes it more difficult to detect.
The charity's mechanism for accepting Bitcoin payments is notable for its sophistication, as it uses a circuitous payment channel that makes it more difficult to detect.
What are Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)?
Entities that help with the exchange, transfer, safekeeping and administration of virtual assets, including cryptocurrency.
Kharon previously reported on Azzam Aid’s ongoing fundraising campaigns. The charity is registered in Türkiye and in Ontario, Canada, according to its website.
Cryptocurrency Fundraising
Azzam Aid's website directs donors to download Blink Wallet, a cryptocurrency wallet based in El Salvador, to store Bitcoins purchased on mainstream cryptocurrency exchanges.
To move these funds to the charity, they use Coinsnap, a Bitcoin Lightning payment processing service registered in Serbia, which generates unique Bitcoin addresses for each transaction.
This Bitcoin infrastructure illustrates new circumvention techniques emerging amidst complex terrorist financing schemes conducted by Hamas and other terrorist groups to evade financial sanctions and detection.
Since the October 7 attacks, the U.S., European, and Israeli governments have taken multiple enforcement actions to disrupt Hamas's fundraising efforts. These actions have targeted charitable fronts and non-profit organizations; social media, crowdfunding campaigns, and online payment platforms; and cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets.
Cryptocurrency Fundraising
Azzam Aid's website directs donors to download Blink Wallet, a cryptocurrency wallet based in El Salvador, to store Bitcoins purchased on mainstream cryptocurrency exchanges.
To move these funds to the charity, they use Coinsnap, a Bitcoin Lightning payment processing service registered in Serbia, which generates unique Bitcoin addresses for each transaction.
This Bitcoin infrastructure illustrates new circumvention techniques emerging amidst complex terrorist financing schemes conducted by Hamas and other terrorist groups to evade financial sanctions and detection.
Since the October 7 attacks, the U.S., European, and Israeli governments have taken multiple enforcement actions to disrupt Hamas's fundraising efforts. These actions have targeted charitable fronts and non-profit organizations; social media, crowdfunding campaigns, and online payment platforms; and cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets.
Azzam Aid’s Bitcoin donation page. Source: Azzam Aid website.
A Partner in the Spotlight
This development comes as Al Khair Foundation, a key partner of Azzam Aid, has come under recent scrutiny after the death of one of its leaders in an Israeli military operation.
On July 12, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Hossam Mansour, an alleged platoon commander in Hamas's Internal Security Forces and a director of the Al Khair Foundation, was killed in an airstrike that targeted the charity’s warehouse in southern Gaza.
The Foundation confirmed the Israeli strike in a social media post, and mourned the death of Mansour, whom it identified as its Gaza field coordinator.
This development comes as Al Khair Foundation, a key partner of Azzam Aid, has come under recent scrutiny after the death of one of its leaders in an Israeli military operation.
On July 12, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Hossam Mansour, an alleged platoon commander in Hamas's Internal Security Forces and a director of the Al Khair Foundation, was killed in an airstrike that targeted the charity’s warehouse in southern Gaza.
The Foundation confirmed the Israeli strike in a social media post, and mourned the death of Mansour, whom it identified as its Gaza field coordinator.
IDF announcement of the death of Hamas commander Hossam Mansour, noting the role of Al Khair foundation in the “transfer [of] funds to terrorist organizations, disguising it as humanitarian activity. Source: X.
Azzam Aid and Al Khair Foundation have formed a close partnership in recent months.
In December 2023, Al Khair Foundation Middle East thanked Azzam Aid for its support in a shelter campaign initiative by Al Khair in Gaza. In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, Azzam Aid’s leader Huthaifa Azzam called on his social media followers to support Al Khair’s projects in Gaza.
The Foundation, established in 2003, claims to specialize in humanitarian support, international development and disaster relief assistance. It operates in the Palestinian territories and also has offices in Türkiye and the U.K.
More on Azzam Aid and Hamas:
• Inspired by Al-Qaida founder, charity solicits support for Gaza
• Gaza now, sanctioned for supporting Hamas, continues fundraising
• Hamas-linked networks mobilize crowdfunding campaigns following attacks on Israel
In December 2023, Al Khair Foundation Middle East thanked Azzam Aid for its support in a shelter campaign initiative by Al Khair in Gaza. In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, Azzam Aid’s leader Huthaifa Azzam called on his social media followers to support Al Khair’s projects in Gaza.
The Foundation, established in 2003, claims to specialize in humanitarian support, international development and disaster relief assistance. It operates in the Palestinian territories and also has offices in Türkiye and the U.K.
More on Azzam Aid and Hamas:
• Inspired by Al-Qaida founder, charity solicits support for Gaza
• Gaza now, sanctioned for supporting Hamas, continues fundraising
• Hamas-linked networks mobilize crowdfunding campaigns following attacks on Israel
