The U.S. Treasury Department stated that a network operating through so-called humanitarian charities raised over 2 million dollars, including hundreds of thousands of dollars sent via cryptocurrencies.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a member of Hamas' military wing, two individuals located in France, and two charitable organizations, accusing them of raising over $2 million for Hamas through cryptocurrencies and so-called humanitarian donations.
The Ministry of Finance stated that the network raised funds between 2020 and 2026, including $1.5 million obtained after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and tens of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency were sent to a Hamas commander located in Gaza.
These sanctions will freeze the assets of the designated parties within the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, typically prohibit Americans from conducting business with them, and subject foreign financial institutions that assist them in carrying out significant transactions to potential penalties.
The U.S. Treasury Department stated that it has sanctioned multiple parties for raising over 2 million dollars for the Islamic militant group Hamas.
The Ministry of Finance identified a member of Hamas' military wing, two individuals within France, and two charitable organizations, claiming that they transferred over $2 million to Hamas through a complex fundraising operation that lasted for six years. This operation utilized cryptocurrencies and so-called humanitarian donations.
The department alleges that Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid raised funds for humanitarian causes in France, and subsequently transferred the money to Hamas. Hamas has been listed as a terrorist organization by multiple judicial authorities and has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The Ministry of Finance stated that the network raised over 2 million US dollars between 2020 and 2026, including 1.5 million US dollars collected after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. The Ministry of Finance indicated that these two individuals sent hundreds of thousands of US dollars in cryptocurrency to al-Zaq. The Ministry of Finance did not clarify whether all 2 million US dollars were transferred through cryptocurrency. The Ministry of Finance also specifically mentioned that Barika and Oualid sent hundreds of thousands of US dollars in cryptocurrency to Saleem Abdallah Saleem al-Zaq; the latter is a deputy battalion commander of Hamas' Qassam Brigade based in Gaza.
This also echoes reports from last month: The Kassan Brigade advises donors not to send funds directly from Binance, but to use other encryption services first, and then transfer the funds to a wallet with the address TRON.
The new sanctions prohibit any property or property rights held by designated individuals and organizations within the jurisdiction of U.S. courts. Persons within the United States are generally not allowed to conduct transactions with them, and foreign financial institutions that knowingly assist in significant transactions may face secondary sanctions. The restrictions also apply to companies in which one or more designated parties directly or indirectly hold 50% or more of the equity.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated: "Terrorist organizations like Hamas rely on complex financial intermediaries and fraudulent schemes in an attempt to exploit the public."
