Israeli intelligence officials say that Palestinian militant group Hamas has financial operations in China that include money laundering and procurement of equipment, according to a report in the Jerusalem Post (Sept. 8). The report also says that Hamas has recruiting operations in Turkey.

This is not the first time that ties between Hamas and China have been alleged by Israel. In 2008 the Bank of China was accused of transferring millions of dollars to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for carrying out terrorist activities in Israel between 2004 and 2007. In 2009 Israel claimed that Hamas leadership had been ordering weapons and military equipment directly from China.

China has categorically denied these allegations, which have thus far warranted little international attention.