The United States on Friday expanded its effort to cut off funding for Hamas, announcing a second round of sanctions against people and organizations linked to the group since it launched an attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people.
Quick Read
- The U.S. announced a second round of sanctions targeting individuals and organizations linked to Hamas.
- These sanctions follow an attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in the death of over 1,400 people.
- The U.S. Treasury Department emphasized Iran’s role in supporting Hamas, both financially and operationally.
- The sanctions target a Hamas representative in Iran and members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
- Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo visited London to gather support for these sanctions from Britain.
- Khaled Qaddoumi, a liaison between Hamas and Iran, and Ali Morshed Shirazi and Mostafa Mohammad Khani, officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force, are among those sanctioned.
- The U.S. also sanctioned organizations like the Iranian Bonyad Shahid (Martyrs Foundation) which is believed to provide financial support to militant families through the Al-Ansar Charity Association in Gaza.
- These sanctions aim to freeze U.S.-based assets of the named individuals and organizations, block financial transactions, and prohibit contributions to them.
The Associated Press has the story:
The United States expands its effort to cut off funding for Hamas
Newslooks- LONDON (AP)
The United States on Friday expanded its effort to cut off funding for Hamas, announcing a second round of sanctions against people and organizations linked to the group since it launched an attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people.
The new sanctions highlight Iran’s role in providing financial, logistical and operational support to Hamas, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement. They include a Hamas representative in Iran and members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
The sanctions were announced as Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo travelled to London to shore up support from Britain, one of America’s closest allies, for the drive to squeeze off funding for Hamas, which both countries consider a terrorist organization.
“Today’s action underscores the United States’ commitment to dismantling Hamas’s funding networks by deploying our counterterrorism sanctions authorities and working with our global partners to deny Hamas the ability to exploit the international financial system,” Adeyemo said.
Among those targeted are Khaled Qaddoumi, described as a liaison between Hamas and the Iranian government; and Ali Morshed Shirazi and Mostafa Mohammad Khani, officials in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Qods Force who are accused of training and assisting Hamas fighters.
The U.S. also sanctioned a number of organizations, including the Iranian Bonyad Shahid, also known as the Martyrs Foundation. U.S. officials say the group, which is affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, funnels millions of dollars through the Gaza-based Al-Ansar Charity Association for the families of militants.
The practice “ultimately serves as a recruiting tool for terrorist activities,” the U.S. said.
The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets owned or controlled by the named individuals and organizations. They also block financial transactions with those designated and prohibit the contribution of funds, goods and services to them.
