US Sanctions Hamas-Linked Network Accused of Moving Ksh259M Through Charities and Crypto

The US Treasury Department has sanctioned a Hamas military wing member and two France-based fundraisers accused of moving over Ksh259 million ($2 million) to the Palestinian militant group through charities and cryptocurrency.

Saleem Abdallah Saleem al-Zaq, a Gaza-based battalion deputy in Hamas’s military wing, was named as one of those sanctioned along with Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid, who operated fundraising organisations in France that transferred money to al-Zaq.

The Treasury said the network collected more than Ksh259 million between 2020 and 2026, including about Ksh194.5 million ($1.5 million) after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.