The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed fresh sanctions on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, targeting the money transfers from Iran to Gaza. The sanctions are aimed at cutting off the financial support Hamas receives from Tehran, estimated to be at least $100 million annually.
The US Treasury Department has placed two Iran-based financial institutions, Al-Bilad Islamic Bank and Melli Bank, on its sanction list for their suspected involvement in providing financial services to Hamas.
The UK has also labeled Iran’s Assistance to the Palestinian Uprising Committee and its deputy head, Mahan Air, as terrorist entities and is freezing their assets within UK jurisdiction.
The new measures are the latest in a series of international efforts to pressure Hamas to end its terrorist activities and to end the violence in and around the Gaza Strip.
