Israel has experienced the worst terrorist attacks in it’s history and the U.S. Treasury Department has announced targeted sanctions on Hamas operatives in an attempt to cripple the terrorist group and all who fund them.
On Oct 7th, the terrorist group Hamas launched hundreds of missiles from Palestine into Israel killing over 1,400 Israelis and also kidnapped more than 100 people which included American citizens. The Biden administration has finally taken action against Hamas and their financial actors in the hopes that they will lose access to any money and end the war quickly.
“The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas’s financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. “The U.S. Treasury has a long history of effectively disrupting terror finance and we will not hesitate to use our tools against Hamas… that includes by imposing sanctions and coordinating with allies and partners to track, freeze, and seize any Hamas-related assets in their jurisdictions.”
The sanctions announced by the Treasury Department target ten key factors that enable Hamas to operate which include sanctions on individuals managing a “secret” investment portfolio, a financial firm in Qatar with ties to the Iranian regime, known high level Hamas commanders, and access to crypto exchanges in Gaza. The targeted sanctions are far reaching, spanning numerous countries such as Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and Qatar.
The Biden administration will be asking Congress for an aid package upwards of $100 billion for Israel and Ukraine but unsure how the funds would be split. Treasury Secretary Yellen asked the House to elect a speaker soon so an aid package can be voted on and hopefully approved.
“We do need to come up with funds, both for Israel and for Ukraine. This is a priority,” she said. “It’s really up to the House to find, seat a speaker and to put us in a position where legislation can be passed.”
