The United States and the United Kingdom jointly announced a new set of sanctions on Wednesday, targeting individuals in Turkey and other locations associated with the Palestinian Hamas militant group, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. This fourth round of sanctions focuses on eight individuals involved in advancing Hamas’s agenda by representing the group’s interests abroad and managing its finances, as stated by the Treasury.
Brian Nelson, the under secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized that Hamas heavily relies on well-placed officials and affiliates, exploiting permissive jurisdictions to conduct fundraising campaigns. The illicit proceeds are then funneled to support the group’s military activities in Gaza.
Among the targeted Hamas officials, Haroun Mansour Yaqoub Nasser Al-Din, a key financial operative based in Turkey, was highlighted by the Treasury. Al-Din has been implicated in a network transferring money from Turkey and Gaza to the Hamas command center in Hebron, in the West Bank. This financial support has reportedly subsidized Hamas activities, contributing to unrest in the West Bank.
Brian Nelson, during his visit to Oman and Turkey in late November, worked on U.S. efforts to hinder Hamas and other groups’ ability to raise and move funds. The latest sanctions come after three previous rounds imposed by the United States and Britain following Hamas’s deadly incursion into Israel on October 7.
