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Governments in the three jurisdictions have unveiled a new set of designations, following actions taken by the EU last week.
The UK, US and Australia have imposed coordinated sanctions on Hamas in a bid to disrupt the terrorist group’s financial networks.
The latest round targets networks of Hamas-affiliated financial exchanges in Gaza, their owners and associates, and particularly financial facilitators that have played key roles in funds transfers, including crypto-asset transfers, from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza.
“Hamas has sought to leverage a variety of financial transfer mechanisms, including the exploitation of cryptocurrency, to channel funds to support the group’s terrorist activities,” said Brian E. Nelson, undersecretary of the US Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.
“Treasury, in close coordination with our allies and partners, will continue to leverage our authorities to target Hamas, its financiers, and its international financial infrastructure.”
In the US, this action builds on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) recent joint designations with the UK on December 13 and November 14, targeting Hamas leaders and financiers, as well as US actions on October 27 targeting sources of Hamas support and financing; October 18 targeting Hamas operatives and financial facilitators; and May 2022 designating officials and companies involved in managing Hamas’ secret international investment portfolio.
Meanwhile, David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, said that the new sanctions send a “clear message” to Hamas.
“The UK and our partners are committed to ensuring there is no hiding place for those financing terrorist activities,” said Cameron.
The latest move from the three jurisdictions comes fresh off of the EU unveiling its own Hamas-targeted sanctions last week.
On Friday (January 19), the Council of the European Union announced that it had established a framework that will allow the bloc to penalise any individual or entity who supports, facilitates or enables violent actions by Hamas and the PIJ.
Under the new regime, the EU may target those who support, materially or financially, Hamas or the PIJ. It may also target those who participate in the planning, preparation or enabling of violent actions by Hamas or the PIJ.
In addition to these rules, which will remain in place until January 19, 2025, the Council designated six individuals of different nationalities to provide financial support to Hamas.
