Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
The Treasury Department announced a new set of sanctions targeting Hamas, focusing on eight officials and facilitators involved with the group.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that these sanctions are directed at individuals who “perpetuate Hamas’s violent agenda by representing the group’s interests abroad and managing its finances,” as mentioned in a news release on Wednesday.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson emphasized the US’s commitment to disrupt Hamas’s funding networks: “Hamas continues to rely heavily 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.” He added, “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.”
Among those sanctioned include:
Haroun Mansour Yaqoub Nasser Al-Din is identified as a key figure in Hamas’s financial operations in Turkey and the head of its office in Jerusalem. He is involved in transferring funds from Turkey and the Gaza Strip to Hamas in the West Bank city of Hebron, coordinating with senior Hamas official Salih Al-Aruri to finance activities in the West Bank.
In Turkey, Jihad Muhammad Shaker Yaghmour, recognized as Hamas’s official representative, is sanctioned for organizing meetings with senior leaders and handling covert activities for the group. Mehmet Kaya, also based in Turkey, faces sanctions for facilitating financial transfers to Hamas, amounting to tens of millions of dollars.
Ali Abed Al Rahman Baraka, based in Lebanon, is sanctioned for his role as chief of Hamas’s National Relations Abroad, having previously served as Hamas’s representative to Lebanon and engaging with international diplomats.
