The United States and the United Kingdom are continuing their efforts to crack down on individuals linked to the Palestinian Hamas militant group. In a joint move, both countries have imposed a fourth round of sanctions on key Hamas officials who play a significant role in perpetuating the group's violent agenda and managing its finances. The sanctions are aimed at individuals who exploit permissive jurisdictions to direct fundraising campaigns for Hamas and funnel the proceeds to support its military activities in Gaza. Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that Hamas heavily relies on networks of well-placed officials and affiliates to further its goals.

Among the individuals targeted is Haroun Mansour Yaqoub Nasser Al-Din, who is based in Turkey and serves as Hamas's key financial operative there. Al-Din has been involved in a network that transfers funds from Turkey and Gaza to the Hamas command center in the West Bank, as well as subsidizing Hamas activities to incite unrest in the region. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) worked closely with the UK to designate these Hamas officials. This latest round of sanctions builds on previous actions taken against the group, demonstrating the continued commitment to degrade Hamas's ability to fund attacks and destabilize the region.

The designated individuals are facing sanctions under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters. They include Gaza-based Ismail Musa Ahmad Barhum, Turkey-based Haroun Mansour Yaqoub Nasser Al-Din, Lebanon-based Ali Abed Al Rahman Baraka, Gaza-based Jihad Muhammad Shaker Yaghmour, Lebanon-based Maher Rebhi Obeid, Gaza-based Nizar Mohammed Awadallah, Bethlehem-based Hassan Al-Wardian, and Turkey-based Mehmet Kaya. As a result of these sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals in the United States or under the control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.

Non-US financial institutions and other entities engaging in transactions or activities with these individuals may also face sanctions risk or enforcement actions. It is important to note that these sanctions are not meant to punish, but rather to bring about a positive change in behavior. OFAC remains committed to enabling the flow of legitimate humanitarian assistance while denying resources to malicious actors. Provisions are in place to allow for legitimate humanitarian support to vulnerable populations, and individuals and organizations can seek removal from the sanctions list in accordance with the law.