The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against 10 members and financial facilitators of Hamas—the Palestinian militant group that launched a deadly offensive against Israel nearly two weeks ago—saying they’re trying to root out Hamas’ sources of revenue across the region and prevent further attacks against Israel.
Among those sanctioned are a Hamas-linked crypto exchange as well as financiers of the group.
Among those sanctioned by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Wednesday are individuals who manage Hamas’ investment portfolio across Gaza, Algeria, Sudan, Turkey and Qatar.
The operator of a Gaza-based virtual currency exchange that trades in bitcoin and a Qatar-based financial facilitator with ties to Iran were also sanctioned.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the department’s sanctions are in response to the “brutal and unconscionable massacre” of Israeli civilians and children, adding that the department will continue to deny Hamas the ability to raise and use funds to continue with their attacks.
The sanctions were announced one day after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that killed hundreds. The Palestinian Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike was to blame, while Israel denied it was responsible and claimed a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket hit the hospital.
Ayman Nofal, a member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassim Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, was among those sanctioned Wednesday. Treasury officials said “he was allegedly killed” in an airstrike earlier this week.
Further sanctions are expected in the coming days, Axios reported Tuesday.
The sanctions are designed to slow the revenue Hamas earns from multiple businesses that are said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Treasury Department. Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and European Union, has been sanctioned by the U.S. before. Last year, the Treasury Department targeted a Hamas finance official, three Hamas financial facilitators and six companies that generated revenue for the group. The Treasury Department had already imposed dozens of sanctions on Hamas and those connected to the group before Wednesday’s penalty.