US sanctions seek to disrupt Hamas' revenue, US Treasury says

[October 18, 2023]  WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration issued sanctions on Wednesday aimed at disrupting Hamas' funding, targeting what it said was "a secret Hamas investment portfolio," a financial facilitator tied to Iran and a Gaza-based virtual currency exchange, among others.  

A bronze seal for the Department of the Treasury is shown at the U.S. Treasury building in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

The sanctions, imposed under a terrorism-related executive order, targeted nine individuals and one entity based in Gaza and elsewhere including Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, and Qatar, the U.S. Department of Treasury said in a statement.

"The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas’s financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.

"We will continue to take all steps necessary to deny Hamas terrorists the ability to raise and use funds to carry out atrocities and terrorize the people of Israel," Yellen added.

Treasury's actions come as U.S. President Joe Biden visited Israel and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Doina Chiacu)

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