The Treasury Department announced sanctions on some of the Palestinian militant group's funding networks on Monday, the one-year anniversary of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The Treasury Department announced that the Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated three people, a “fake charity organization” in the Gaza Strip and a financial institution affiliated with Hamas. A long-time Hamas supporter and nine of his businesses were also identified.
“These actors play a key role in raising external funds to finance Hamas's terrorist activities, often under the guise of charity.” the ministry said in a release.
The sanctions come on the one-year anniversary of Hamas's invasion of Israel in a surprise attack that killed 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages. Israel has vowed to destroy the group, and the ensuing war has left more than 40,000 Gaza civilians dead, the Gaza Health Ministry reports.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the department will continue to “relentlessly” reduce the ability of Hamas and other Iranian proxies to “finance their operations and carry out further acts of violence.”
“The Treasury Department will use all available tools to hold Hamas and its promoters accountable, including those who seek to exploit the situation to secure additional revenue sources,” Yellen said in a statement. ” he said.
The ministry said Monday's sanctions target abuses of the nonprofit sector and organizations that use it through fake charities to generate revenue. The ministry said that as of early 2024, Hamas may have been collecting $10 million per month through global donations under the guise of collecting funds for civilians in Gaza.
Most of the funds were raised and donated in Europe. One charity known to be associated with Hamas is the Palestine People's Solidarity Charitable Association.
These sanctions will help maintain the health and access of other nonprofit and humanitarian organizations seeking to assist those affected by ongoing conflicts.
The sanctions targeted Hamid Abdullah Hessein al-Ahmar, a Yemeni citizen living in Turkey and “one of Hamas' most prominent international supporters.” According to the ministry, he and nine of his organizations have been sanctioned for materially aiding, sponsoring or providing goods and services to Hamas.
Monday's sanctions mark the eighth time the United States has targeted Hamas' financial systems since attacks last year. The department continues to work closely with the United Kingdom and Australia to target Hamas' financial intermediaries, and the United States remains committed to working with allies to counter ongoing threats in the region. said.
