The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new measures against organizations in Gaza that are allegedly supporting Hamas through covert means. The action, which targets both nonprofit groups and individuals, is part of an effort to expose and disrupt networks that use charitable fronts to fund terrorist activities.
According to the Treasury, six Gaza-based organizations—Waed Society Gaza, Al-Nur Society Gaza, Qawafil Society Gaza, Al-Falah Society Gaza, Merciful Hands Gaza, and Al-Salameh Society Gaza—are linked to Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. These groups claim to provide medical care but have been accused of channeling funds and resources directly to support Hamas operations.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley stated: “Hamas continues to show a callous disregard for the welfare of the Palestinian people. The Trump Administration will not look the other way while Hamas leadership and enablers exploit the financial system to fund terrorist operations.”
Documentary evidence obtained after October 7, 2023, was cited as revealing how these organizations operate under Hamas direction. Members of Hamas’s internal security forces are reportedly assigned to some of these charities, such as Waed Society and Al-Salameh. The Waed Society receives funding from Hamas for specific projects and advocates on behalf of fighters captured by Israeli forces. Al-Nur and Al-Falah have also transferred funds directly to Hamas’s military wing; for example, Al-Falah provided over $2.5 million in a recent three-year period.
Merciful Hands and Qawafil were described as being similarly controlled by or integrated into Hamas structures.
In addition to these organizations, OFAC targeted the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which it described as acting on behalf of Hamas while presenting itself as a representative body for Palestinians abroad. The PCPA has been involved in organizing flotillas aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade around Gaza. Senior PCPA figures Adel Saad al-Din Hassan Doughman and Majid Khalil Moussa al-Zeer were previously designated by Treasury due to their links with Hamas fundraising efforts in Europe.
Zaher Khaled Hassan Birawi, a senior official based in the United Kingdom and founding member of PCPA, was also sanctioned for providing support to the organization.
The sanctions mean that all property and interests belonging to those designated that are within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Transactions involving these entities or individuals are generally prohibited unless specifically authorized by OFAC licenses or exemptions. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. and foreign persons.
OFAC noted that its actions are not intended to penalize protected speech or religious practice but focus on disrupting financing mechanisms used by terrorist organizations.
For further details about those designated today, information is available through OFAC channels.
