The US Imposes Sanctions Against Hamas

The United States has imposed new sanctions against members of the Hamas movement and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which are elite units of the Iranian Armed Forces. This information was disclosed in a statement by the US Department of the Treasury, as reported by TASS.

“Today, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has enacted a second package of sanctions against key officials and financial networks associated with Hamas,” the statement reads.

The announcement also notes that this step follows the barbaric attacks on Israel on October 7. Those sanctioned include Hamas representatives in Iran, certain members of the IRGC, as well as an organization located in the Gaza Strip that has served as a channel for the transfer of Iranian illicit funds to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group.

Specifically, sanctions have been imposed against Khaled Qaddumi, a Jordanian who, according to the US agency, has long been involved with Hamas participants and serves as the representative of that movement in Iran. Restrictions have also been placed on Iranians Ali Morshid Shirazi, Mustafa Mohammed Hani, and Ali Ahmad Faizullah, who are allegedly involved with the IRGC and provide support to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group.

Sanctions have also targeted the “Al Ansar” charitable association based in the Gaza Strip and its director Naser al-Sheikh Ali. According to US authorities, their activities are aimed at recruiting terrorists.

Restrictions have also been placed on the Sudanese Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Co. LTD, Larrycom for Investment Company, and the Spanish Zawaya Group for Development Investment Sociedad Limitada, all owned by Sudanese entrepreneur Abdel Basit Hamza al-Hassan Muhammed Khair. He has been included in the US Treasury's list of international terrorists since October 18.

Furthermore, US authorities have imposed restrictions on Turkish citizens Alaaddin Şengüller, Gülşah Yigitoglu, and Arva Mangush. According to information from the US Department of the Treasury, they are linked to the Turkish company Trend GYO, which agency experts included in Hamas’s investment portfolio in 2022.

As a result of falling under sanctions, all assets of the named individuals within the US will be frozen, including any equity stakes of 50% or more in companies. Transactions with these individuals are prohibited and conducting such transactions through third parties may lead to secondary sanctions against those parties.