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 disrupting the Middle East peace process and in 2003, for committing acts of terrorism.
- Political Bureau Deputy Chief in Syria Musa Abu Marzouk: In 1995, for disrupting the Middle East peace process and in 2003, for committing acts of terrorism.
- Political Bureau member in Syria Imad Khalil al Alami: In 2003, for committing acts of terrorism.
- Senior leader in Lebanon Usama Hamdan: In 2003, for committing acts of terrorism.
- Political Bureau and Executive Committee Head in Syria Khalid Mishaal: In 2003, for committing acts of terrorism.
- Leader in Gaza Abdel Aziz Rantisi: In 2003, for reporting to Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
- Operative Muhammad Hisham Muhammad Ismail Abu Ghazal: In 2011, for facilitating and disseminating improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
- Senior operative Rawhi Mushtaha: In 2015, for helping found the forerunner of the Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
- Senior operative Yahya Sinwar: In 2015, for helping found 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 deploying 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 funding and directing military operations in the West Bank against Israel.
- Hamas Finance Committee leader in Saudi Arabia Mahir Jawad Yunis Salah: In 2015, for overseeing 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 involvement in funding, investment and money transfers to Hamas in Saudi Arabia.
- Interior Minister Fathi Hammad: In 2016, for coordinating terrorist cells in Gaza and establishing Al Aqsa TV, a Hamas media outlet.
- Military commander Abu Anas al Ghandour: In 2017, for his involvement 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 involvement in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens and links to Hamas’ military wing.
- Financial operative in Lebanon Muhammad Sarur: In 2019, for managing money transfers from the Qods Force to Izz ad Din al Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing.
- Financial associate Kamal Abdelrahman Aref: In 2019, for coordinating with Muhammad Sarur to transfer money from the Qods Force to Hamas.
- Financial auditor Fawaz Mahmud Ali Nasser: In 2019, for transferring Iranian funds through Hezbollah to Hamas and managing funds related to Hamas prisoners.
- Finance Office head Zaher Jabarin: In 2019, for managing 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 commanding Hamas’ military wing, which carries out attacks against Israel.
- ‘Abdallah Yusuf Faisal: In 2022, for working in the Hamas Finance Ministry.
- Official in the West Bank Musa Muhammad Salim Dudin: In 2023, for purchasing weapons for Hamas and other acts.
- Sudan-based financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair: In 2023, for managing Hamas investments.
- Turkey-based operative Amer Kamal Sharif Alshawa – In 2023, for coordinating financial activities.
- Turkey-based operative Ahmed Sadu Jahleb – In 2023, for coordinating financial activities.
- Algeria-based operative Aiman Ahmad Al-Duwaik: In 2023, for coordinating financial activities.
- Turkey-based operative Walid Mohammed Mustafa Jadallah: In 2023, for coordinating financial activities.
- Qatar-based operative Muhammad Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah: In 2023, for transferring funds.
- Military wing member Ayman Nofal: In 2023, for coordinating attacks against Israel.
- Iran-based official Khaled Qaddoumi: In 2023, for representing Hamas in Tehran.
Sanctions on Charities, Front Companies, Banks and Supporters
- Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development: In 2001, for providing millions of dollars each year to Hamas.
- Beit el Mal Holdings: In 2001, for being controlled by Hamas.
- Al Aqsa Islamic Bank: In 2001, for functioning 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 providing support and funding to Hamas.
- Association de Secours Palestinien (Switzerland): In 2003, for providing support and funding to Hamas.
- Palestinian Relief and Development Fund (United Kingdom): In 2003, for providing support and funding to Hamas.
- Palestinian Association in Austria: In 2003, for providing support and funding to Hamas.
- Sanabil Association for Relief and Development (Lebanon): In 2003 for providing support and funding to Hamas.
- Al Aqsa Foundation: In 2003, for providing financial support to Hamas.
- Al Salah Society: In 2007, for serving as a charitable front and providing financing for Hamas.
- Islamic National Bank: In 2010, for being controlled by Hamas and providing 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 controlled by and providing financial support to Hamas.
- Al Quds International Foundation: In 2012, for being controlled by and acting on behalf of Hamas.
- Asyaf International Holding Group for Trading and Investment: In 2015, for its involvement in investments and money transfers on behalf of Hamas.
- Ahmed Sharif Abdallah Odeh: In 2022, for overseeing Hamas investments.
- Usama Ali: In 2022, for coordinating financial transfers to Hamas.
- Hisham Younis Yahia Qafisheh: In 2022, for helping to transfer funds to Hamas.
- Agrogate Holding: In 2022, for being linked to or controlled by Hamas.
- Al Roward Real Estate Development: In 2022, for being linked to or controlled by Hamas.
- Anda Company: In 2022, for being linked to or controlled by Hamas.
- Itqan Real Estate JSC: In 2022, for being linked to or controlled by Hamas.
- Sidar Company: In 2022, for being linked to or controlled by Hamas.
- Trend GYO: In 2022, for being linked to or controlled by Hamas.
- Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company and representative Ahmed M.M. Alaqad: In 2023, for providing financial services to Hamas.
- Al Ansar Charity Association: In 2023, for providing funds for terrorist recruitment and to families of terrorists affiliated with Hamas and PIJ.
- Nasser Al Sheikh Ali: In 2023, for directing the Al Ansar Charity Association.
- Sudan-based Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Co. LTD: In 2023, for being controlled by Hamas financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair.
- Spain-based Zawaya Group for Development Investment Sociedad Limitada: In 2023, for being controlled by Hamas financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair.
- Sudan-based Larrycom for Investment Company: In 2023, for being controlled by Hamas financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair.
- Turkey-based Alaeddin Senguler, Gulsah Yigidoglu, and Arwa Mangoush: In 2023, or having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, Hamas.