Global Powers Unite to Disrupt Hamas’s Financial Networks

Coordinated Effort to Disrupt Terrorist Funding

In a united effort, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia have imposed financial sanctions on key figures involved in Hamas’s financial networks. The goal is to disrupt the terrorist group’s ability to fund its activities.

Targeted Individuals

The following individuals have been targeted with these sanctions:

• Zuheir Shamlakh, known as Hamas’s “main money changer,” who used his company Al Mutahadun for Exchange to move Iranian funding to terrorist groups.
• Ahmed Sharif Abdallah Odeh, a key operator in Hamas’s financial network.
• Ismail Barhoum, a member of the group’s Political Bureau in Gaza.
• Hassan Al-Wardian, a senior leader of Hamas in the Bethlehem/West Bank region.
• Jamil Yusuf Ahmad Aliyan, a senior official of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Message from Foreign Secretary David Cameron

“These sanctions send a clear message to Hamas – there is no place to hide for those financing terrorist activities. We will continue to work with our partners to disrupt Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East and support a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.”

Aim of Sanctions

The sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans, aim to cut off the flow of funding that supports Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including from Iran.

Commitment to Disrupting Terrorist Funding

The UK has committed to working with its G7 partners to deny Hamas the ability to raise and use funds for terrorist activities. This is the third round of sanctions imposed by the UK on Hamas and its associates since the 7 October attacks on Israel, following two previous rounds of coordinated action with the US.