The United States and Britain have imposed a new series of sanctions against Hamas-affiliated entities. According to US Treasury Department officials, the sanctions on Thursday target senior Hamas officials involved in the planning of terrorist attacks and the management of the group’s financial resources.
This is the fourth round of sanctions against Hamas since the deadly attacks on Israel and hostage-taking on October 7th.
The Associated Press reported on Thursday, December 13th, that the latest round of US sanctions, implemented in coordination with the British government, is the latest White House response to Hamas’s deadly attacks.
According to US Treasury Department data, the sanctions list includes individuals active in the West Bank, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Ismael Barhoum of Hamas’ political office, Haroun Nasser al-Din, head of Hamas’ office in Jerusalem, and Jihad Yaghmour, the official representative of Hamas in Turkey, are among those targeted in the Thursday sanctions list issued by the US Treasury Department.
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According to Brian Nelson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the US Treasury, Hamas still relies heavily on a network of operatives and affiliates outside the country; a network that uses seemingly legitimate channels to finance military activities.
Meanwhile, the British Foreign Office also announced that Mahmoud Khalid al-Zahar, one of the founders of Hamas in Gaza, and Ali Baraka, head of its foreign relations, are included in the new British sanctions list.
The French news agency, citing conservative government officials in Britain, wrote, “Ali Baraka openly defended Hamas’ deadly attacks on Israel on October 7th and has sought to justify the group’s hostage-taking of Israeli citizens.”
In the meantime, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron reiterated the official position of his country on Thursday and said that Hamas cannot have any future role in the Gaza Strip.
Last week, Britain’s representative at the United Nations abstained from voting on a proposed Security Council resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution was vetoed by the United States.