Hamas: Timeline of US Sanctions 1995-2023

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Hamas: Timeline of US Sanctions 1995-2023

October 27, 2023

Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza
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The United States first sanctioned Hamas in 1995 and put the Sunni extremist movement on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 1997. Five presidents – Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden – sporadically imposed additional sanctions on the Palestinian organization’s political and military leaders, charities, companies, and facilitators as well as banks acting as financial arms of Hamas. The US has also sanctioned Iran for its role in financing, training and arming Hamas. The sanctions have targeted key leaders, including:

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the Hamas founder and spiritual guide, in 1995 and 2003
Khalid Mashaal, former head of the Hamas political bureau in exile in Qatar, in 2003
Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon and formerly Iran, in 2003
Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, in 2015
Mohammedd Deif, the Hamas military commander of the Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades in Gaza, in 2015
Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas political bureau in exile in Qatar, in 2018

Over the decades, the United States has cited Hamas for carrying out deadly terrorist attacks and suicide bombings; disrupting the Middle East peace process; and facilitating the sanctions-busting transfer of weapons and millions of dollars in financial aid to Hamas. The United States has struggled to deal with Iran’s proxies short of military confrontation. In total between 1995 and 2023, Washington has sanctioned “nearly 1,000 individuals and entities connected to terrorism and terrorist financing by the Iranian regime and its proxies, including Hamas,” the Treasury Department said in October 2023. The following is a chronology of US sanctions since 1995.

Sanctions on Hamas Leaders and Operatives

Founder and leader in Gaza Sheikh Ahmed Yassin: In 1995, for the Middle East peace process and in 2003, for acts of terrorism.
Political Bureau Deputy Chief in Syria Musa Abu Marzouk: In 1995, for the Middle East peace process and in 2003, for acts of terrorism.
Political Bureau member in Syria Imad Khalil al Alami: In 2003, for acts of terrorism.
Senior leader in Lebanon Usama Hamdan: In 2003, for acts of terrorism.
Political Bureau and Executive Committee Head in Syria Khalid Mishaal: In 2003, for acts of terrorism.
Leader in Gaza Abdel Aziz Rantisi: In 2003, for to Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
��پ��Muhammad Hisham Muhammad Ismail Abu Ghazal: In 2011, for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Senior operative Rawhi Mushtaha: In 2015, for the forerunner of the Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
Senior operative Yahya Sinwar: In 2015, for the forerunner of the Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades commander Muhammad Deif: In 2015, for suicide bombers, directing the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and designing Hamas’ offensive strategy against Israel in 2015.
Political Bureau member Salih al Aruri: In 2015, for military operations in the West Bank against Israel.
Hamas Finance Committee leader in Saudi Arabia Mahir Jawad Yunis Salah: In 2015, for the transfer of millions of dollars from Iran and Saudi Arabia to Hamas’ military wing.
Senior financial officer Abu Ubaydah Khayri Hafiz al Agha: In 2015, for his in funding, investment and money transfers to Hamas in Saudi Arabia.
Interior Minister Fathi Hammad: In 2016, for terrorist cells in Gaza and establishing Al Aqsa TV, a Hamas media outlet.
Military commander Abu Anas al Ghandour: In 2017, for his in Hamas terrorist operations, including a 2006 attack on the Israeli Defense Forces outpost at the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Political Bureau president Ismail Haniyeh: In 2018, for his reported in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens and links to Hamas’ military wing.
Financial operative in Lebanon Muhammad Sarur: In 2019, for money transfers from the Qods Force to Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.
Financial associate Kamal Abdelrahman Aref: In 2019, for with Muhammad Sarur to transfer money from the Qods Force to Hamas.
Financial auditor Fawaz Mahmud Ali Nasser: In 2019, for Iranian funds through Hezbollah to Hamas and managing funds related to Hamas prisoners.
Finance Office head Zaher Jabarin: In 2019, for Hamas’ yearly budget, transferring millions of dollars to Hamas through Redin Exchange and serving as a point of contact between the Qods Force and Hamas.
Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades Deputy Commander Marwan Issa: In 2019, for Hamas’ military wing, which carries out attacks against Israel.
‘Abdallah Yusuf Faisal: In 2022, for in the Hamas Finance Ministry.
Official in the West Bank Musa Muhammad Salim Dudin: In 2023, for weapons for Hamas and other acts.
Sudan-based financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair: In 2023, for Hamas investments.
Turkey-based operative Amer Kamal Sharif Alshawa – In 2023, for financial activities.
Turkey-based operative Ahmed Sadu Jahleb – In 2023, for financial activities.
Algeria-based operative Aiman Ahmad Al-Duwaik: In 2023, for financial activities.
Turkey-based operative Walid Mohammed Mustafa Jadallah: In 2023, for financial activities.
Qatar-based operative Muhammad Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah: In 2023, for ��ڳܲԻ��.
Military wing member Ayman Nofal: In 2023, for attacks against Israel.
Iran-based official Khaled Qaddoumi: In 2023, for Hamas in Tehran.

Sanctions on Charities, Front Companies, Banks and Supporters

Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development: In 2001, for millions of dollars each year to Hamas.
Beit el Mal Holdings: In 2001, for being by Hamas.
Al Aqsa Islamic Bank: In 2001, for as the financial arm of Hamas and being owned by Beit el Mal Holdings.
Commite de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestiniens (France): In 2003, for support and funding to Hamas.
Association de Secours Palestinien (Switzerland): In 2003, for support and funding to Hamas.
Palestinian Relief and Development Fund (United Kingdom): In 2003, for support and funding to Hamas.
Palestinian Association in Austria: In 2003, for support and funding to Hamas.
Sanabil Association for Relief and Development (Lebanon): In 2003 for support and funding to Hamas.
Al Aqsa Foundation: In 2003, for financial support to Hamas.
Al Salah Society: In 2007, for as a charitable front and providing financing for Hamas.
Islamic National Bank: In 2010, for being controlled by Hamas and financial services to Hamas members and employees, including members of the organization’s military wing.
Al Waqfiya al Riaya al Usra al Filistinya wa al Lubnanya: In 2012, for being by and providing financial support to Hamas.
Al Quds International Foundation: In 2012, for being by and acting on behalf of Hamas.
Asyaf International Holding Group for Trading and Investment: In 2015, for its in investments and money transfers on behalf of Hamas.
Ahmed Sharif Abdallah Odeh: In 2022, for Hamas investments.
Usama Ali: In 2022, for financial transfers to Hamas.
Hisham Younis Yahia Qafisheh: In 2022, for to transfer funds to Hamas.
Agrogate Holding: In 2022, for being linked to or by Hamas.
Al Roward Real Estate Development: In 2022, for being linked to or by Hamas.
Anda Company: In 2022, for being linked to or by Hamas.
Itqan Real Estate JSC: In 2022, for being linked to or by Hamas.
Sidar Company: In 2022, for being linked to or by Hamas.
Trend GYO: In 2022, for being linked to or by Hamas.
Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company and representative Ahmed M.M. Alaqad: In 2023, for financial services to Hamas.
Al Ansar Charity Association: In 2023, for funds for terrorist recruitment and to families of terrorists affiliated with Hamas and PIJ.
Nasser Al Sheikh Ali: In 2023, for the Al Ansar Charity Association.
Sudan-based Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Co. LTD: In 2023, for being by Hamas financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair.
Spain-based Zawaya Group for Development Investment Sociedad Limitada: In 2023, for being by Hamas financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair.
Sudan-based Larrycom for Investment Company: In 2023, for being by Hamas financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair.
Turkey-based Alaeddin Senguler, Gulsah Yigidoglu, and Arwa Mangoush: In 2023, or having materially , sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, Hamas.