The U.S. Sanctions Four Individuals and Several Entities Linked to Hamas

On Monday, October 8, coinciding with the first anniversary of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, the U.S. imposed new sanctions against four individuals and several entities associated with this Iran-backed group. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department announced in a statement that those sanctioned play a crucial role in raising foreign donations, often under the guise of 'charitable work,' to finance Hamas and its terrorist activities. Janet Yellen, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated that on the first anniversary of the 'terrorist and brutal attack by Hamas,' the department will continue to undermine the capabilities of Hamas and other Iranian proxy groups in financing their violent activities. According to her, the Treasury will utilize all available tools to hold Hamas and its supporters accountable. The U.S. State Department also issued a statement emphasizing that Washington will continue to disrupt the financial capabilities of Hamas's funders. According to the Treasury's statement, Mohammed Abdullah Hussein Al-Ahmar, a Yemeni citizen residing in Turkey, is one of the most prominent international financial supporters of Hamas, along with nine organizations owned, controlled, or managed by him in Yemen, the Czech Republic, Lebanon, and Turkey. Other individuals sanctioned by the U.S. include Mohammed Hanoun, a Hamas member residing in Italy, Majed Al-Zair, a senior Hamas representative in Germany, and Adel Daghman, responsible for Hamas activities in Austria. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Japan, and several other countries worldwide. The U.S. emphasis on supporting Israel against the Islamic Republic on the anniversary of the Hamas attack is notable, as are Iranian activists' calls to end the madness of 'death merchants.' A delegation of U.S. senators visited Israel on the anniversary of the Hamas attack, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the international community to condemn the Iranian government's support for terrorist groups.