The United States Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on six Gaza-based charities and one international Palestinian diaspora organization over alleged ties to Hamas. U.S. officials said the groups were secretly operating on behalf of Hamas while publicly presenting themselves as humanitarian and civil society organizations.
The sanctions were announced by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control under Executive Order 13224, a legal authority used to target terrorist groups and their financial supporters. According to the Treasury, the action is intended to disrupt Hamas’s access to funding while allowing legitimate humanitarian assistance to continue under existing licenses.
Gaza Charities Accused of Supporting Hamas Operations
The Treasury said six organizations operating in Gaza were designated for allegedly being integrated into Hamas’s military structure. These organizations publicly claimed to provide medical aid, charitable services, and civilian support.
The sanctioned groups are Waed Society Gaza, Al-Nur Society Gaza, Qawafil Society Gaza, Al-Falah Society Gaza, Merciful Hands Gaza, and Al-Salameh Society Gaza.
According to the Treasury, documents recovered from Hamas offices after the October 7, 2023 attacks revealed that members of Hamas’s internal security forces were formally assigned to some of these organizations. The documents also showed that fighters from Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, were instructed on how to request funding, services, and logistical support through these charities.
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U.S. officials said this structure allowed Hamas to disguise its financial and operational activities as humanitarian work. One of the organizations, Al-Falah Society Gaza, was accused of transferring more than $2.5 million to Hamas over a three-year period. The Treasury also stated that Al-Nur Society Gaza and other groups were used to pay members of the military wing and fund projects directed by Hamas.
The Treasury said these activities demonstrate how charitable organizations can be misused to support militant groups, undermining trust in legitimate humanitarian efforts.
Diaspora Organization and Individual Designated
In addition to the Gaza-based charities, the Treasury designated the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, known as PCPA. U.S. officials described the group as a Hamas-controlled front that presented itself as representing Palestinians living abroad.
According to the Treasury, PCPA advanced Hamas political and operational goals and supported activities such as flotillas attempting to reach Gaza. The department said the organization was established and directed by operatives linked to Hamas’s Bureau of International Relations and received Hamas funding for its initial conference.
Along with the organization, Zaher Khaled Hassan Birawi was also designated. The Treasury identified him as a UK-based senior official and founding member of PCPA, stating that he supported the organization’s activities.
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The Treasury emphasized that these designations are administrative financial measures and not criminal convictions.
What the Sanctions Mean for Aid and Financial Activity
As a result of the sanctions, all property and financial interests of the designated organizations and individual that fall under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with them, and many international banks also comply with U.S. sanctions, limiting access to global financial systems.
John K. Hurley, the U.S. Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said Hamas has shown disregard for the welfare of Palestinian civilians by exploiting charitable organizations to fund its operations. He stated that the U.S. government will not ignore efforts to misuse the financial system to support terrorism.
The Treasury said the designations aim to reduce the risk of terrorist financing within the nonprofit sector while ensuring that lawful humanitarian assistance can continue. Existing Office of Foreign Assets Control general licenses remain in place to allow legitimate aid to reach civilians.
According to the department, the action reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt Hamas’s financial networks by targeting organizations accused of providing funding, services, or international support under the cover of humanitarian or advocacy work.