Over US$1.3 million in cash seized from Hamas

Tel Aviv (ANI/TPS): Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip have seized five million shekels (US$1.3 million) in cash from terrorist hideouts and the homes of Hamas operatives, Israel’s Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.
Israeli shekels and US dollars were also seized along with Jordanian and Iraqi currency, the ministry said.
The money transferred to the Finance Division of the Defense Ministry in recent times will be counted and deposited in the state treasury.
Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Harzi Halevi assured troops in Gaza on Sunday that the war against Hamas would resume after a ceasefire to rescue dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.

“The IDF and its soldiers fight fiercely to protect the lives of our people while upholding the values of the military,” Halevi wrote. “We created conditions for the release of hostages, children and mothers during this ceasefire.”
“When the deal is completed, we will return to our campaign with determination for the continued release of hostages and the complete destruction of Hamas,” he said.
Thirteen Israeli hostages were released by Hamas on Saturday night, the second such case since a four-day ceasefire was imposed in the Gaza Strip the previous day. 15 foreign nationals have also been released in separate deals since the ceasefire came into effect on Friday.

In parallel, Israel has released 78 Palestinians jailed for security crimes. Jerusalem has allowed about 200 trucks of goods, in addition to fuel, to enter the Gaza Strip.
On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant vowed during a tour of the Gaza Strip that IDF troops would not leave the enclave until all remaining captives were returned.

“As military pressure increases, they (Hamas) want a pause. When you increase the pressure, they want another break. When you raise more, they are ready to come with an offer, and when you raise even more, they are ready to come with an offer. They come up with a proposal that can be accepted,” Gallant said.
“We cannot stop the war until we reach a situation in which we bring back all the hostages,” he said. “Any further talks will be under fire,” he said. “If Hamas wants to discuss any other agreement, it will happen only while the bombs are falling.” ” (ANI/TPS)