US and UK introduce additional sanctions against Hamas News
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US and UK introduce additional sanctions against Hamas

JURIST Deputy News Managing Editor Lou Kettering | U. Pittsburgh School of Law contributed to this report.

The US and the UK introduced new sanctions on Wednesday against Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and individuals linked to both groups. This comes as the UK’s second round of October 7 attack-related sanctions and the US’s fourth.

The newest sanctions target figures associated with Hamas, including co-founder Mahmoud Zahar (Hamas’s co-founder), Ali Baraka (Hamas’s Head of External Relations), the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and key figures financing Hamas in Lebanon and Algeria. Six individuals are now subject to UK travel bans and asset freezes. The UK government stated that they intend these “stringent measures” to show that those linked to Hamas will be held accountable for their actions, even if they do not operate from Gaza. The US sanctions target 16 individuals associated with Hamas “who perpetuate Hamas’s violent agenda by representing the group’s interests abroad and managing its finances.”

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, commenting on the new sanctions, condemned Hamas and PIJ, promising to continue working with allies to find a solution to the conflict. He stated:

Hamas can have no future in Gaza. Today’s sanctions on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad will continue to cut off their access to funding and isolate them further. We will continue to work with partners to reach a long-term political solution so that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace.

Additionally, in response to the sanctions, US Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said:

Hamas continues to rely heavily on networks of well-placed officials and affiiates, exploiting seemingly permissive jurisdictions to direct fundraising campaigns for the group’s benefit and funneling those illicit proceeds to support its military activities in Gaza. We remain focused, as do our allies and partners, on leveraging our collective tools and authorities to degrade Hamas’s ability to fund additional attacks and further destabilize the region.

This coordinated package with the US adds to sanctions already put in place by the allied countries in November to disrupt Hamas operations. Previous sanctions included travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes. Both the US and the UK have expressed their support for Israel in the past months. In the UK, the government has reinforced that support of Hamas is a criminal offense that could result in 14 years of imprisonment for perpetrators. Most recently, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza while the UK abstained from voting.

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