Falcon powers – The United States Treasury Department and the European Union announced on Friday the imposition of sanctions against the Hamas movement, targeting leaders involved in cyber-attacks and the use of drones in Gaza and Lebanon.
In a statement, the Treasury Department said, “The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) takes action against Hamas, targeting leaders involved in cyber-attack operations and unmanned aerial vehicle programs in Gaza and Lebanon. Simultaneously, the European Union imposes sanctions targeting Hamas as well.”
According to the statement, among the individuals affected by the new sanctions is Abu Ubaida, the information warfare commander of Hamas and an official in the drone unit. Abu Ubaida, also known as Husam Samir Abd al-Khaliq, is the spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas in Gaza since 2008.
The sanctions also include William Abu Shanab, the commander of the northern unit based in Lebanon, which is supported by a building office affiliated with Hamas in Lebanon. The unit is involved in the development and production of 120mm automatic mortar shells, mobile launching platforms for Grad rockets, flight simulation devices, intelligence-gathering drones, and suicide drones.
Additionally, the sanctions target Braa Hassan Farhat, an assistant to Abu Shanab in the northern unit, and Khalil Mohammed Azam, an intelligence officer in the northern unit.
The US Treasury Department stated that “OFAC designated both al-Khaliq, Abu Shanab, Farhat, and Azam pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Hamas.”
The statement added, “Pursuant to the orders issued today, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be reported to OF
