US Sanctions Network Over Alleged Hamas Funding Diversion
The US Treasury Department has added three individuals and two charities to its sanctions list for allegedly diverting funds meant for humanitarian aid to Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization. The sanctions target France-based Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid, who are accused of sending hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency to Saleem Abdallah Saleem al-Zaq, a deputy commander in the Al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza.
The Treasury Department claims that the network, which operated between 2020 and 2026, raised over $2 million in donations, including $1.5 million after the October 7, 2023, attack. The department alleges that the funds were diverted from their intended purpose and used to support Hamas's military activities.
The sanctions also cover two charities and a member of Hamas's military wing, with the restrictions applying to US persons and companies that do business with the sanctioned parties. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions with the designated parties may face secondary sanctions.