US Targets Hamas Financing Network

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced designations targeting a Hamas military operative located in Gaza and a fundraising network based in France. Authorities report this network utilized sham charities and cryptocurrency to collect approximately $2 million for Hamas over recent years.

Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, a spokesman for the State Department, released a statement detailing the action. The statement emphasizes a continued U.S. effort to dismantle global support networks for Hamas. Officials aim to prevent the group from accessing resources for activities deemed to threaten the security of Americans, U.S. partners, and the broader Middle East region.

The Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the FBI collaborated on the intelligence leading to these designations. This coordination sought to identify methods Hamas uses to exploit humanitarian and charitable structures abroad, allegedly disguising financial support for the group as legitimate aid work.

The United States plans to continue working with international governments, including France, to identify and hold accountable individuals and organizations involved in raising and transferring funds for Hamas. Disrupting these networks forms part of broader U.S. efforts to isolate Hamas, protect legitimate humanitarian assistance for Gazan civilians, and support regional stability.

U.S. officials state a commitment to ensuring reliable and safe organizations deliver humanitarian aid. These organizations, they maintain, advance Palestinian interests and regional peace. The designations were issued under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended by E.O. 13886, which serves as the United States’ primary counterterrorism sanctions authority.

The U.S. Department of State previously designated Hamas on October 31, 2001, under E.O. 13224. This designation cited the group for committing or posing a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten U.S. national security, foreign policy, or economy. Hamas also holds designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.