The Times reveals secret letters that show Iran’s $222M payments to Hamas

Secret letters found during the Gaza war show the Iranian government's significant financial support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas totaling at least $222 million between 2014 and 2020, according to an exclusive report by The Times, Report informs.

Detailing the flow of money from Tehran to Gaza, the report includes purportedly signed letters by Marwan Issa, the chief of staff of Hamas’ military wing who is believed to have been killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza.

Another letter reportedly was addressed to Abu Ibrahim – another name used by Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza.

The report suggests that the content of the letters likely means they were intended for internal communication within Hamas's leadership.

While it has been clear for many years that Tehran was financially and militarily supporting Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, these latest documents more likely reveal part of the financial contributions by the Islamic Republic.

The funds were allegedly transferred in cash from Iran to Lebanon – then to Gaza, through a network of intermediaries, potentially involving cryptocurrency or credit systems.

Israel, which recovered the documents, suspects that the funds were used to finance Hamas's military operations, including the arsenal of rockets and weapons used in conflicts with Israel.