New US sanctions target Hamas facilitators and Iraqi airline in bid to cut Iranian support

The United States has imposed its fifth round of sanctions on Palestinian militant group Hamas since the 7 October attacks in Israel. The new sanctions target Gaza-based money exchanges, an Iraqi airline and militant groups in the region that the US links to Iran.

‘Today’s action targets networks of Hamas-affiliated financial exchanges in Gaza, their owners, and associates, and particularly financial facilitators that have played key roles in funds transfers, including cryptocurrency transfers,’ the US Treasury Department announced, 22 January.

According to the Treasury Department, the funds were moved from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Gaza. Treasury added that the UK and Australia are concurrently ‘also placing sanctions on key Hamas officials and facilitators.’

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) added 13 individuals and six entities – including Fly Baghdad airlines, its CEO and two aircraft – to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (‘SDN’ list.

OFAC said the airline and its chief were being designated ‘for providing assistance to the Qods Force and its proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. OFAC also announced it is also designating three leaders and supporters of one of the Qods Force’s main Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, Kata’ib Hizballah.’

In a related action, Treasury issued Counter Terrorism General License 27 and new FAQs related to the sanctions on Fly Baghdad.

Meanwhile the UK said it is imposing sanctions on ‘Five key figures and an entity involved in the leadership and financial networks of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ),’ saying this ‘will help to cut off the flow of funding that supports these terrorist groups, including from Iran.’ This is the third round of UK sanctions on Hamas and PIJ since 7 October.

UK and US sanctions both targeted Gaza-based money changer Zuheir Shamlakh – he is accused of facilitating transfers worth tens of millions of dollars from Iran to Hamas.

Australia designated 12 persons and three entities linked to Hamas, Hizballah and PIJ, saying they ‘include Hamas leaders, financial facilitators, and persons who have provided training to terrorist operatives, as well as three entities that have facilitated the transfer of funds to Hamas.’

Since 7 October, the United States and its allies have focused on cutting the financial networks linking Hamas and other militant Islamist groups to Iran.