The Trump administration announced sanctions on Friday against three individuals linked to the Islamist militant group Hamas and two charities based in France. This action, described as an "extraordinary counter-terrorism work," aims to expose a sophisticated, multi-year financing network that allegedly funneled over $2 million to Hamas through deceptive charitable fronts and cryptocurrency channels.

Key Developments

  • The US Treasury Department stated that all property in the US belonging to those sanctioned is blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
  • Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary, emphasized that terrorist organizations like Hamas rely on complex financial facilitators and fraudulent schemes to sustain their operations. He stated, "Treasury will continue to identify, isolate, and impose consequences on those who provide Hamas with the financial lifelines it needs to survive."

Individuals and Charities Sanctioned

The individuals sanctioned include:

  • Saleem Alzaq: Accused of being part of Hamas's military wing and based in Gaza.
  • Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid: Residents of France who allegedly operated charities to raise funds for humanitarian purposes, which were actually funneled to Hamas.