US sanctions 10 members of Hamas and its financial network

2023-10-18 16:25:29, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States announced on Wednesday that it had imposed sanctions on a group of 10 Hamas members and the Palestinian militant group's financial network in Gaza, Sudan, Turkey and Qatar in response to the surprise attack on Israel that killed more than 1,000. people and about 200 others were kidnapped.

Sanctioned by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control are members who manage the investment portfolio of Hamas, a Qatar-based financial facilitator with close ties to the Iranian regime, a senior commander of Hamas and a virtual exchange in Gaza.

Iran is the main financier of Hamas.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US is taking decisive and swift action to crack down on Hamas' financiers and facilitators following its brutal attack and senseless massacre of Israeli civilians, including children. ".

US President Joe Biden, who arrived in the Middle East late Tuesday to show support for Israel, has tried to defuse tensions in the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, but those efforts have met with major setbacks, especially after a the blast that took place at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, killing around 500 people.

Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Intelligence Financing Brian Nelson said the United States is working to investigate Hamas' funding channels and called on allies and the private sector to do the same, or prepare "for to suffer the consequences".

"We cannot and will not tolerate the passage of money through the international system for the terrorist activities of Hamas," Nelson said.

The invisible leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the Oct. 7 attack on Israel was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids on West Bank cities over the past year, increasing attacks by newcomers on Palestinians and increasing settlements, in addition to other reasons.

"Enough is enough," Deif, who does not appear publicly, said in a recorded message. He added that the October 7 attack "is only the beginning"./ REL