The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has targeted Hamas’ financial networks in a second round of sanctions since the organization’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The twelve individuals and organizations are designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for their actions on behalf of Hamas, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the associated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and so-called charitable groups that serve as conduits for funds to reach these organizations.
Among the newly sanctioned individuals are:
- Khaled Qaddoumi, a Jordanian national residing in Tehran, who serves as a liaison between Hamas and the Iranian government;
- officials and commanders of the IRGC-QF;
- the Al-Ansar Charity Association and its director;
- Sudan-based companies affiliated with Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, a Sudanese financier designated by OFAC on October 18, 2023, and;
- the primary shareholders of Trend GYO, an important element in Hamas’ global investment portfolio, designed by OFAC in May 2022.
In designating these entities and individuals, OFAC has highlighted the financial, logistical and operational support given to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hizballah, by Iran.
As a result of this designation, all property and interests in property of the designees within the United States or within the possession or control of a US person are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. In addition, entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.