US Intensifies Blockade of Hamas' 'War Funding'... Additional Sanctions on Iran Behind the Scenes

The U.S. government has implemented sanctions aimed at cutting off the funding sources of the Palestinian armed group Hamas, coinciding with President Joe Biden's visit to Israel. This marks the first time the U.S. government has announced sanctions against Hamas following the Israeli attacks. Alongside this, additional sanctions were imposed concerning Iran's drones and ballistic missiles, which are identified as backing Hamas.

U.S. President Joe Biden. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 18th (local time), the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced in a statement that it would sanction nine individuals and one organization linked to terrorism, based in Gaza Strip, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, and Qatar. The Treasury Department stated that those targeted by the sanctions include members managing Hamas's funds, facilitators connected to Iran's fundraising, and personnel associated with a Gaza-based cryptocurrency exchange.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized, "The United States will take swift and decisive action in response to Hamas's brutal massacre of Israeli civilians, including children," adding, "We will continue to take all necessary measures to condemn Hamas's terrorist acts."

The United States, the European Union (EU), and other Western countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and have maintained various sanctions. This is the first time the U.S. government has announced sanctions against Hamas following the Israeli attacks.

On the 18th (local time), a girl is seen walking while carrying her belongings near the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza Strip, which was reduced to ruins by a massive explosion. The Palestinian side stated that at least 500 people died when Israel airstruck the hospital the previous day, but Israel claimed that the cause was a misfired rocket from Palestinian armed groups. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Additionally, the Treasury Department added 11 individuals, 8 organizations, and 1 vessel from Iran, China, Hong Kong, and Venezuela to the sanctions list related to Iran's drone and ballistic missile development. This move comes as some United Nations Security Council resolutions related to this matter are nearing expiration.

Previously, in 2015, Iran reached a nuclear agreement with the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany to freeze and reduce its nuclear program in exchange for lifting some sanctions. The original agreement included a sunset clause that would lift certain sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program as of the 18th. However, the agreement was nullified after former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018, and discussions to restore the agreement have been stalled since last year.

Israel launched a surprise attack on the 7th, initiating a large-scale retaliation against Hamas, which massacred civilians, resulting in over 5,000 deaths on both sides so far. President Biden, who made a surprise visit to war-torn Israel as a sign of solidarity, spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on his flight back and said, "Egypt has agreed to allow up to 20 trucks to pass through the Rafah crossing." The Rafah crossing is effectively the only passage connecting the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

The White House reported that President Biden and President al-Sisi discussed cooperation on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and mechanisms to ensure relief supplies are distributed to civilians. Earlier, President Biden requested Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and Israel announced it would permit the entry of food, water, and medicine into the Gaza Strip.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.