US Sanctions Hamas Funding Network Using Cryptocurrency and Fake Charities
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on five individuals linked to a Hamas funding network that allegedly raised over $2 million through fake charities and cryptocurrency transactions. Among those sanctioned is Salim Abdallah Salim al-Zak, a deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, who managed a financial network that moved funds using money transfer services and cryptocurrency wallets. The sanctions also target France-based Fauzi Barika and Amel Walid, along with their organizations, Association Baraka and Ensemble C Mieux, which collected donations under the guise of humanitarian aid for Gaza residents.
From 2020 to 2026, Barika, Walid, and al-Zak raised over $2 million, with about $1.5 million collected after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Treasury noted that hundreds of thousands of dollars were transferred in cryptocurrency, though not all funds were moved through digital assets. Al-Zak promoted the fundraising efforts on social media and co-founded Association Baraka with Barika, while Walid established Ensemble C Mieux.
The sanctions freeze all assets of the individuals in the US and prohibit US persons from conducting transactions with them. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for those listed may face secondary sanctions. The Treasury described the decision as part of a broader FBI operation against Hamas funding channels, including those operating within the United States.
The use of cryptocurrency as a funding channel has been highlighted, with the US Department of Justice previously advising donors to avoid Binance and use other platforms like Trust Wallet, Bybit, OKX, Kast, or RedotPay. However, experts have noted distortions in estimates of crypto fundraising, with only a portion of funds potentially related to Hamas. In September 2026, the FBI seized about $560,000 in cryptocurrencies intended for Hamas’s military wing.