EU Imposes Asset Freezes, Visa Bans On Hamas Financiers

Overall the bloc has so far blacklisted 12 individuals linked to operatives. (Representational)

Brussels:

The European Union on Friday imposed asset freezes and visa bans on several firms and individuals accused of helping to finance Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Brussels said.

The sanctions were the second round to be imposed by the EU on the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad groups after their attack on Israel on October 7.

Overall the bloc has so far blacklisted 12 individuals and three entities linked to the operatives.

Among the latest targets were three front companies used by key financier Hamza Abdelbasit to funnel funds to the group, including Spanish real estate firm Al Zawaya Group, and two others based in Sudan, an EU statement said.

Also hit were the head of Hamas’ “foreign investment activities”, a money changer enabling transfers from backer Iran and the official in charge of the groups “Charitable Institutions Association”, it said.

The EU said in addition it was imposing sanctions on Ali Morshed Shirazi, a senior Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp official overseeing Tehran’s links to Palestinian groups from Lebanon.

Top Hamas official Maher Rebhi Obeid “responsible for directing Hamas’ terrorist operatives in the West Bank” was also put on the list.

Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

The operatives also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 42 are dead.

In response Israel unleashed a devastating military campaign in Hamas’ stronghold Gaza that has killed at least 37,765 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

EU diplomats said that following the latest sanctions on Hamas the bloc should now impose a second round of measures targeting violent Israeli extremists in the West Bank.

The 27-nation EU — which has struggled for a united position on the Gaza war — in April imposed sanctions on four “extremist” Israeli settlers and two groups over violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

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