The United Kingdom and United States have targeted Hamas leadership with new tranche of sanctions today 14th November, 2023, restricting the terror group’s ability to operate.
According to the statement from the two Govts, these sanctions are against 4 Hamas senior leaders and 2 Hamas financiers, placing the stringent measures on Hamas’ leadership in an effort to disrupt the group’s acts of terror.
The sanctions show that the terror group’s leaders cannot escape the consequences of their actions, even if they are pulling strings from outside of Gaza, also covered include a Lebanon-based financier and money launderer in Sudan.
All those sanctioned by the UK and US were targeted for their leadership or financing roles in the group, which was originally founded in late 1980s with a commitment to destroy Israel and these designations add to existing UK sanctions against Hamas, including on the organisation itself.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said United Kingdom will continue to use every tool at its disposal to disrupt the abhorrent activity of this terrorist organisation, working with the United States and other allies, making it harder for them to operate and isolating them on the world stage.
He added that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too, saying that UK stand in solidarity with them and will continue to support humanitarian pauses to allow significantly more lifesaving aid to reach Gaza.
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ political leader in Gaza, is among individuals from group’s political and military wings targeted by today’s UK and US sanctions.
He is reported to have been involved in the brutal attacks on Israel last month. Also Muhammed Deif, commander of the group’s military arm.
The United States said Iran’s support, primarily through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, enables Hamas and PIJ’s terrorist activities, including through the transfer of funds and the provision of both weapons and operational training.
It axded that Iran has trained PIJ fighters to produce and develop missiles in Gaza while also funding groups that provide financial support to PIJ-affiliated fighters.
Those now subject to UK travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes, which prohibit the sale of weapons and military equipment by a UK person to designated person, include: Yahya Sinwar: Sinwar is a senior leader of Hamas and the group’s political leader in Gaza.
Muhammed Deif: Deif is a senior leader of Hamas and is the commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB), the military arm of Hamas, who announced the October 2023 terrorist attacks among others.
The UK and the US stand united in their solidarity with Israel in its fight against Hamas.
“We continue to use our diplomatic efforts to support a two-state solution to provide justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, including through the Prime Minister’s recent visits to the region to speak with their counterparts”.