US Treasury Sanctions Palestinian, Middle East Charities for Hamas, PFLP Links

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on five individuals and five charitable organizations across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe for allegedly providing financial support to Hamas's military wing and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) under the guise of humanitarian aid. Among those sanctioned are the Gaza-based Al Weam Charitable Society, reportedly controlled by Hamas, and the Palestinian legal group Addameer, accused of ties to the PFLP. Additional targeted organizations include Turkey's Filistin Vakfi and charities in Algeria, the Netherlands, and Italy, which the U.S. claims are fronts for funding terrorist activities. The Treasury emphasized the challenge of distinguishing legitimate humanitarian crowdfunding from terrorist financing, noting that these groups exploit the credibility of charitable work to fund violent operations. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender stressed the importance of protecting the charitable sector from abuse by terrorist organizations, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to dismantling these financial networks. The sanctions come amid ongoing concerns about Hamas's activities following its 2023 attack on Israel and highlight the complexities of combating terrorism financing within humanitarian contexts.