- The UK and US governments have jointly sanctioned individuals suspected of funding Gaza Now, a news agency promoting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- Sanctions target individuals and firms linked to Gaza Now, including Al-Qureshi Executives and Aakhirah Ltd., along with director Aozma Sultana
- Blockchain analytics by Elliptic shows Gaza Now raised $21,000 in cryptocurrencies for Hamas post-October 7 attacks
The UK and US governments have sanctioned individuals suspected of providing financial support to Gaza Now, a news agency known for promoting the activities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist groups. The sanctions target two individuals and associated firms allegedly involved in fundraising alongside Gaza Now, including Al-Qureshi Executives and Aakhirah Ltd., along with their director, Aozma Sultana. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic found that Gaza Now raised just $21,000 in cryptocurrencies for Hamas since the October 7 attacks, and the sanctions mean that the group and associated companies and individuals are prohibited from interacting with them, while assets have also been frozen.
UK Laws Used for the Second Time
The joint initiative was announced yesterday by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, with all funds and economic resources in the UK controlled by Sultana and Ayash frozen.
This move marks the second utilization of the UK’s Treasury-led domestic counter-terrorism sanctions regime, aimed at individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. Previously, the regime was used to sanction an art dealer suspected of running an international terrorist financing operation for Hizballah through the UK’s fine art market.
Speaking on the matter, UK Treasury Minister Baroness Vere emphasized the commitment of the UK and its partners to cut off funding sources for Hamas, PIJ, and any other entities supporting terrorist activities in the Middle East, adding that the UK will “never hesitate to take action against those who exploit the integrity of Britain’s financial system, its broader economy and threaten our national security.”
OFAC Sanctions More Crypto Addresses
Meanwhile, Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson stated that the US and its partners would continue leveraging tools to disrupt Hamas’ ability to facilitate further attacks, noting that it “remains committed to degrading Hamas’ ability to finance its terrorist activities, including through online fundraising campaigns that seek to funnel money directly to the group.”
Gaza Now’s founder, Mustafa Ayash, was among the list of individuals sanctioned with OFAC listing several cryptocurrency addresses Ayash and Gaza Now used to raise funds. In a sign that cryptocurrency remains a limited method of fundraising, only $21,000 has been raised in cryptocurrencies through the sanctioned addresses since the October 7 attacks.
OFAC previously sanctioned several crypto addresses connected to Hamas in October.
