Britain and the United States have jointly announced new measures, including asset freezes and travel bans, targeting key figures and an entity associated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The move is part of ongoing efforts to curb the flow of funding supporting these militant groups, with a specific focus on disrupting financial networks originating from Iran.
The British government stated that these sanctions are intended to send a strong message to Hamas, emphasizing the commitment of the UK and its partners to prevent any safe haven for those financing terrorist activities. Foreign Secretary David Cameron highlighted the importance of disrupting the financial operations that sustain Hamas, particularly with support from Iran, to achieve a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.
The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes. However, it remains unclear whether the individuals targeted have assets in Britain or have traveled there recently. Among those sanctioned is Zuheir Shamlakh, identified as Hamas’s ‘main money changer’ since 2019, with a reputation for being involved in the group’s shift toward cryptocurrencies. Shamlakh allegedly exploited digital currencies and informal money transfer systems to move substantial sums of money from Iran to Hamas before the October 7 attack.
Other individuals facing sanctions include Ahmed Sharif Abdallah Odeh, described as a key operator in Hamas’s financial network, and Ismail Barhoum, a member of its political bureau in Gaza and its governing council. Hassan Al-Wardian, identified as a senior leader of Hamas in the West Bank, and Jamil Yusuf Ahmad Aliyan, an alleged senior PIJ official in Gaza, complete the list of those sanctioned.
This announcement follows multiple rounds of coordinated sanctions at the end of the previous year, targeting both Hamas and its Iranian backers. The focus on disrupting financial networks underscores the determination to prevent the financing of terrorist activities and support a sustainable ceasefire in the region.
