The United States re-punished the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Friday with new sanctions against key members and financial networks of the organization, including a company in Spain, as well as officials in Iran training its militants.
Friday’s sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department are in addition to those announced by the Joe Biden Administration on October 18 against the Islamist group following an Israeli attack that led to a new war in Gaza.
The current round of sanctions includes companies owned by Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, a Sudan-based Hamas financier who owns, among others, the Spain-based company Zawaya Group for Development Investment.
Another of those sentenced was Khaled Qaddoumi, a Jordanian national living in Tehran as Hamas’s representative in Iran. The Treasury Department identified Qaddoumi as an intermediary between Hamas and the Iranian regime.
Additionally, Washington sanctioned Iranians Ali Morshed Shirazi, Mostafa Mohammad Khani, both members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard accused of training Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and Ali Ahmad Faizullahi, commander of Iran’s Saberin Brigade who trained Hamas. and Islamic Jihad militants. Hezbollah in Syria.
The Treasury Department also included in the sanctions Al-Ansar Charity Association, an organization linked to Islamic Jihad that receives money from Iran to help the families of militants of Islamist organizations in Gaza.
According to Washington, the funds received by Al-Ansar are actually earmarked for terrorist activities.
The Treasury Department estimates that global investments in Hamas are worth approximately $500 million.
Treasury Undersecretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement that the new round of sanctions “underscores the commitment of the United States to dismantle Hamas’ financial networks.”
“We will not hesitate to take actions that further reduce Hamas’ ability to carry out horrific terrorist attacks with measures against financial activities and sources of money,” Adeyemo added.
