- UK and US target leaders and financiers of Hamas and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) with new sanctions in fresh
clampdown on terror groups
- Coordinated sanctions aim to isolate Hamas through freezing
assets and imposing travel bans
- Foreign Secretary has committed to disrupting acts of terror
and ensuring “Hamas has no future in Gaza”.
The UK has sanctioned seven further individuals linked to Hamas,
to counter the ongoing threat posed by the terror organisation,
cut off its access to finances and impose fresh travel
restrictions on individuals linked to the group to disrupt its
operations.
Today’s move, coordinated with the United States, is the UK’s
second round of targeted sanctions imposed on figures associated
with Hamas since the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Mahmoud Zahar, Hamas’ co-founder, is among those targeted in
today’s sanctions. Also targeted is Ali Baraka, Hamas’s Head
of External Relations, who has publicly defended the October 7
attacks and sought to justify the taking of hostages.
Those being sanctioned today include a leader of the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terror organisation which was also
involved in the October 7 attacks.
The sanctions target key figures in the network that has financed
Hamas, including individuals in Lebanon and Algeria. These
stringent measures show that individuals linked to Hamas will not
be able to escape accountability, even if they are operating from
outside of Gaza.
Foreign Secretary said:
Hamas can have no future in Gaza. Today’s sanctions on Hamas and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad will continue to cut off their access
to funding and isolate them further.
We will continue to work with partners to reach a long-term
political solution so that Israelis and Palestinians can live in
peace.
Those now subject to UK travel bans and asset freezes
include:
-
Mahmoud Zahar - a Gaza-based Hamas leader and
co-founder
-
Ali Baraka - the Lebanon-based Head of External
Relations for Hamas
-
Maher Obeid - a political leader who has held senior
positions in Hamas
-
Akram al-Ajouri - the Syria-based Deputy Secretary General of
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Leader of the Al-Quds
Brigades, PIJ’s military wing
-
Khaled Chouman and Rida Ali Khamis - who have channelled
funds to Hamas through their Lebanon-based currency
exchanges
-
Aiman Ahmad Al Duwaik - an Algeria-based financier for Hamas
who has helped run the organisation’s overseas investment
portfolio
The UK and the US stand united in their solidarity with Israel
and its fight against Hamas, while being clear their actions must
be in line with International Humanitarian Law. We continue to
support efforts to prevent a regional escalation of the conflict
and allow crucial humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary recently visited the region, where he
announced the UK would give a further £30m in humanitarian aid to
the United Nations and other agencies on the ground. This will
provide shelters, blankets, food and medicine to civilians in
Gaza.
The UK has already sent 51 tonnes of lifesaving aid to the region
and doubled its funding commitment to the Occupied Palestinian
Territories this year.
Membership and expressing support for Hamas is an illegal act in
the UK, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Dozens of
countries, including the United Kingdom and United States, as
well as the European Union, have designated it a terrorist
group.
Today’s announcement follows sanctions put in place by the UK
last month, which targeted Hamas’ political leader in Gaza, along
with other top-ranking officials and financiers. Sanctions form
part of a wider tranche of measures aimed at disrupting the
group’s acts of terror, including the recently announced
international taskforce set up to enable the UK and partners to
share financial intelligence.
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