The United States has imposed sanctions on ten key Hamas terrorist group members, operatives, and financial facilitators in Gaza and elsewhere over the attack on Israel recently.
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken in a statement on Wednesday, said the horrific attacks that Hamas terrorist group perpetrated on October 7, 2023 against civilians in Israel shocked the world.
Adding that the United States expressed its unconditional support to the people of Israel as they go through these tragic times. “We continue to condemn these acts of terrorism that resulted in numerous lives lost and families shattered.
Blinken stated that these individuals to be sanctioned have supported Hamas, other terrorist organizations, enabling Hamas to conduct its brutal terrorism and carry out acts like the vicious attack on Israel.
According to him, “Today’s actions are directed at Hamas terrorists and their support network, not Palestinians. Hamas alone is responsible for the carnage its militants have inflicted on people of Israel,
“And it should immediately release all hostages in its custody. The United States will not relent in using all the tools at our disposal to disrupt Hamas terrorist activity.
“The Department of the Treasury designations were taken under Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists, terrorist organizations, leaders, and officials of terrorist groups, and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism”, he said.
Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after it carried out an unprecedented attack by air, sea and land on Saturday.
The large-scale surprise assault has left at least 900 dead in Israel, prompting a lethal volley of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed at least 687 people.
As they retreated into Gaza, the militants claimed to have taken at least 100 hostages with them and have threatened to kill them if airstrikes target Gaza without warning. Israel has pledged that Hamas will pay a heavy price.
The Israeli army also ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to get out of Gaza and move south within the next 24 hours while deadline is expected to have expired as Israel appears set for a massive ground invasion of Gaza with over 300,000 soldiers.