The American who helped the Jihad: "I wish every day was 10.7"

An investigative report by Shomrim and N12 reveals how terrorist organizations exploit regulatory loopholes in crowdfunding platforms and cryptocurrency exchanges to raise funds under the guise of humanitarian aid. At the center: an American woman who transferred $30,000 to an Islamic Jihad operative in Gaza.

An investigative report by Shomrim and N12 magazine reveals how terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad exploit regulatory loopholes in crowdfunding platforms and cryptocurrency exchanges to raise funds under the guise of humanitarian aid. The report focuses on a federal indictment against Catherine Washburn, a 37-year-old New York resident, who transferred over $30,000 in cryptocurrency to an Islamic Jihad operative in Gaza, writing to him: "I wish every day was October 7." The report describes three federal cases in the US, where prosecutors allege that donations raised under a humanitarian guise reached terrorist organizations. The main platform used for fundraising is the Australian Chuffed, which is not subject to anti-money laundering laws. Shomrim's analysis, based on public blockchain records and tens of thousands of posts, shows that fund transfers continued even after the FBI issued search warrants. Experts note that terrorist organizations switch to another platform each time they are blocked.

The American who helped the Jihad: "I wish every day was 10.7"