Israeli military says it has taken control of Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza

May 2024 · 2 minute read

The US State Department on Tuesday labeled Akram al-Ajouri, the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s militant wing, as a specially designated global terrorist, while the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on “key Hamas officials and the mechanisms by which Iran provides support to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”

Tuesday’s actions are the latest punitive measures taken in response to the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel, and both the designation and sanctions are aimed at impeding the individuals' and organizations' access to resources and funding.

Al-Ajouri also serves as PIJ Deputy Secretary General, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. A separate statement by the US Treasury said he "coordinated the militant training and recruitment operations for PIJ in Gaza, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, and Yemen.”

Meantime, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar, “a senior member and co-founder of Hamas who has worked closely with Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.”

 “Zahhar has spoken publicly on behalf of Hamas, including in formal interviews, to threaten violence against Jewish civilians and emphasize its commitment to the destruction of Israel,” the Treasury Department said in a news release. “As a Hamas representative, Zahhar has also acknowledged and thanked Iran for its support of Hamas.”

Another person, Mu’ad Ibrahim Muhammed Rashid al-Atili, was sanctioned Tuesday “for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Hamas.”

Treasury also imposed sanctions on PIJ Representative to Iran Nasser Abu Sharif, Muhjat AlQuds Foundation — “a PIJ-run, Iran-funded organization whose primary mission is to provide financial support to the families of PIJ fighters and prisoners” — and the foundation’s leader, Jamil Yusuf Ahmad ‘Aliyan.

The Treasury Department also sanctioned Lebanon-based money exchange company Nabil Chouman & Co, which it says Hamas uses to transfer money from Iran to Gaza, as well as its founder Nabil Khaled Halil Chouman, his son Khaled Chouman and another Lebanon-based money exchanger Reda Ali Khamis.

“For several years, the company has served as a conduit for transferring funds to Hamas, transferring tens of millions of dollars to the terrorist organization,” the Treasury Department said.

ncG1vNJzZmidlJ7BqrvNZ5qnpl6YvK57zKKbnaSVmq60wI6loK%2BdXaOyuL%2BOoqqrmZWheqmtzJqqZq%2BRp3qordmaZKedp6h6cn2MamtmamNktaCCw56dcZ5hZoNzrpKcmJuelGmveoKVbmhpm2WYgXmFwXidm5ucnrF%2BldZ6iWuEmaeEoKHKg51pooeFwpF%2BlHyxhZqbZ76Xl5Otbq6QmIW7snzKfnuRl5Sbs7Gzp7F7kX9mZqyMlQ%3D%3D