In response to the October 7 attack on Israel, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken decisive action, marking the fourth round of sanctions against Hamas.
The focus of recent sanctions is on key officials who actively advance Hamas’s agenda by representing the group’s interests abroad and overseeing its financial operations.
Simultaneously, the United Kingdom has collaborated closely with OFAC to designate several crucial Hamas officials.
US’ Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, emphasized the necessity of these measures, stating, “Hamas continues to heavily rely on networks of well-placed officials and affiliates, exploiting seemingly permissive jurisdictions to direct fundraising campaigns for the group’s benefit and funneling those illicit proceeds to support its military activities in Gaza. We remain focused, as do our allies and partners, on leveraging our collective tools and authorities to degrade Hamas’s ability to fund additional attacks and further destabilize the region.”
This latest move builds on OFAC’s recent joint designations with the United Kingdom on November 14, targeting Hamas leaders and financiers.
Previous actions include those on October 27, aimed at sources of Hamas support and financing, October 18, focusing on Hamas operatives and financial facilitators, and May 2022, which involved designating officials and companies managing Hamas’s secret international investment portfolio.
Individuals targeted in today’s announcement are not only key officials of Hamas but have also provided financial support to the group.
