Money is the sinews of war, including in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. France has blocked “the funds” of the two main leaders of the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, Mohammed Deïf and Marwan Issa. This decision comes more than a month after the Hamas terrorist attack against Israeli territory on October 7 and as the Israeli army invaded the Gaza Strip with the aim of “annihilating” the organization. terrorist.
This decision takes the form of two decrees published in the Official Journal by Bercy this Monday, November 13, 2023. “The funds and economic resources which belong to, are owned, held or controlled by Mr. Mohammed DEIF, alias Muhammad AL-DAYF, or even Mohammed AL-MASRI” and “Marwan ISSA” as well as funds “owned, held or controlled by legal persons or any other entity themselves owned” by these two men “are subject to an asset freezing measure “. This measure takes effect for a period of six months, i.e. until May 13, 2024.
The Hamas terrorist organization has two branches, a political branch and a military branch. Mohammed Deïf has led the military branch since 2002 and the death of the previous leader, Salah Shehadeh. He was probably born around 1965 and joined the ranks of the organization upon its creation in 1987. He is today the number 1 target for Israel.
The Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades raid on October 7 left around 1,200 Israelis dead (mostly civilians) and around 240 hostages, according to Israeli army estimates. Far from being a simple small armed group, they have a real chain of command, equipment, regiments, battalions, like a small army. Its forces are estimated at 20,000 fighters, or six brigades bringing together 30 battalions. The number of these “soldiers” could double in the event of mobilization.