US Action Against Two Groups Supported by the Islamic Republic: We Will Destroy Hamas's Financial Infrastructure

On Tuesday, the United States imposed a third round of sanctions against Hamas following the group's sudden attack on southern Israel on October 7. These sanctions target Hamas leaders and funding suppliers. The US Treasury Department stated that these sanctions were implemented in coordination with Britain, aiming at key Hamas officials and the methods through which the Islamic Republic supports Hamas and the 'Palestinian Islamic Jihad' group. The US, the European Union, and Japan have designated the Iran-backed militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated, 'The United States will continue to work with our partners, including the UK, to deprive Hamas of its ability to raise and use financial resources for its crimes.' Yellen added, 'Hamas's actions have caused immense suffering and demonstrated that terrorism does not occur in isolation. Together with our partners, we are resolutely moving towards destroying Hamas's financial infrastructure, cutting off their access to foreign financial resources, and blocking new financial channels they seek for their heinous acts.' According to Reuters, Israel claims that on its deadliest day in 75 years, Hamas killed hundreds in the October 7 attack and took about 240 hostages to Gaza. A report from the Times of Israel stated that Israel had previously announced that around 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attack but later revised this figure to about 1,200. Israel also claims that around 1,500 Hamas members were killed during the attack. Among those sanctioned by Washington is Mahmoud Khaled al-Zahar, a senior member and co-founder of Hamas, a representative of the 'Islamic Jihad' group in Iran, and the deputy secretary-general of the 'Islamic Jihad' based in Damascus, as well as the leader of the militant branch of 'Islamic Jihad.' A Lebanon-based exchange office named 'Nabil Shuman' was also sanctioned. The US Treasury accused this company of acting as a conduit for transferring funds to Hamas, stating that this exchange had transferred tens of millions of dollars to Hamas. Tuesday's actions block any assets of the sanctioned individuals in the United States and generally prohibit Americans from dealing with them. Those who engage in specific transactions with them are also at risk of being sanctioned. Evidence of Hamas's abuse of civilian centers has been published; the 'Rantisi' hospital has been a base for 'terrorists' and holding hostages. Biden expressed concern about Hamas's abuse of hospitals; medical facilities must be protected. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that Hamas has lost control of Gaza. The US stated that hospitals should not be caught in the crossfire; Hamas must leave the hospitals.