US imposes sanctions on Hamas: 'Turkish shareholders' detail draws attention

As the conflict between Hamas and Israel enters its 21st day, the US Department of the Treasury announced the sanctions decisions taken today.

The US has imposed a second round of sanctions on the Palestinian group Hamas following its attack on Israeli communities this month, also targeting a Hamas official in Iran and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In a statement, the US Department of the Treasury stated that the measures target additional assets in a Hamas investment portfolio and individuals who facilitate the evasion of sanctions by companies affiliated with Hamas.

The Treasury Department stated that a Gaza-based entity, which it said serves as a conduit for illicit Iranian funds to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, was also targeted. Iran supports Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East.

"WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO TAKE ACTION"

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in his statement on the matter, "Today's action underscores the US commitment to dismantling Hamas's financing networks by using our counterterrorism sanctions authorities and working with our global partners to prevent Hamas from exploiting the international financial system."

In the statement reported by the British news agency Reuters, Adeyemo said, "We will not hesitate to take action to further degrade Hamas's ability to commit horrific terrorist attacks by relentlessly targeting its financial activities and sources of funding."

WHAT DO THE SANCTIONS COVER?

With the sanctions decision taken today, the assets of the targeted individuals in the US will be frozen, and Americans will generally be prohibited from doing business with these individuals. Those who engage in certain transactions with these individuals will also face the risk of being subject to sanctions.

The Treasury announced that it has also imposed sanctions on a Jordanian citizen living in Tehran, the capital of Iran, who it says serves as Hamas's representative in Iran, as well as officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) who train and assist members of Hamas and other militant groups.

An Iran-based commander of the Saberin Special Forces Brigade, affiliated with the IRGC Ground Forces, was also targeted. The US Treasury said the Saberin Brigade is deployed in Syria and provides training to members of Hamas and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

"TURKISH SHAREHOLDERS" DETAIL

As part of the measures taken by the US, companies based in Sudan and Spain, as well as Turkey-based shareholders of a company previously identified as part of the Hamas investment portfolio, were also targeted.

The US announced that Hamas's investment portfolio, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, also includes companies operating in Turkey, as well as in Sudan, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere.