US lobs sanctions against sources of Hamas funding – some inside Iran

The U.S. on Friday lobbed additional sanctions against the Palestinian terror group Hamas after the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, which started a war.

The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement the measures targeted additional assets in a Hamas investment portfolio and people facilitating sanctions evasion by Hamas-affiliated companies, including a Hamas official in Iran and members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

A Gaza-based entity that Treasury said has served as a conduit for illicit Iranian funds to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group was also targeted, the department said. Iran backs Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East.

"Hamas has built their own illicit networks for terror by taking many of the same steps the Kremlin is taking to avoid our financial sanctions. And much like many Russian elites, senior Hamas officials often live in luxury, while the average Gazan faces dire living conditions," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wall Adeyemo said in a speech Friday announcing the sanctions. 

"Almost immediately after its horrific attacks, Hamas solicited donations to fund its continued terrorist activities," he said. "Our goal is to cut off those financial resources, while ensuring humanitarian aid can continue to flow to the Palestinian people in Gaza." 

Reuters contributed to this update.