The US and UK have imposed new sanctions on Hamas, targeting money transfers from Iran to the Gaza Strip. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the measures intend to “curb the financial support these terrorists use to perpetuate violence and destabilize the region.”
The new sanctions target four key financial facilitators of Hamas, including two based in Iran. The President of the United States declared that these facilitators “provided millions of dollars to Hamas for its military and terrorist operations and to advance its violent agenda.” These sanctions will restrict the ability of those named to access the international financial system, and mark the first time Hamas-related targets in Iran have been designated.
The US and UK hope that the new sanctions will pressure Hamas to abandon what they view as its violent and destabilizing activities in the region. The UK foreign minister stated that the new measures “send a clear message that Hamas’s violence and support for terrorism has consequences.” Both countries are working in conjunction with the United Nations, other governments, and international organizations to broker a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
