In short
- U.S. Department of State issued designations pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended by E.O. 13886, on October 2, 2026.
- U.S. Department of State designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on October 31, 2001.
What happened
The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury and the FBI, announced new designations targeting a Hamas military operative in Gaza and a France-based fundraising network. These entities used sham charities and cryptocurrency to collect nearly $2 million for Hamas in recent years.
The designations were issued under Executive Order 13224, as amended by E.O. 13886, and reinforce the U.S. commitment to dismantling Hamas’s global support networks. The action aims to disrupt terrorist financing disguised as legitimate aid work and protect the integrity of humanitarian assistance to Gazan civilians.
Today’s designations by the U.S. Department of the Treasury target a Hamas military operative in Gaza and a France-based fundraising network that used sham charities and cryptocurrency to collect nearly $2 million for Hamas in recent years.
In numbers
- nearly $2 million funds collected for Hamas by France-based network
What compliance teams should check
- Screen transactions and relationships for links to the France-based fundraising network named in the U.S. Department of State press statement.
- Review compliance with Executive Order 13224, as amended by E.O. 13886, for exposure to Hamas-related entities.
- Update sanctions lists to include the Hamas military operative in Gaza and organizations designated on October 2, 2026.
Why it matters
This action highlights the importance of identifying and disrupting terrorist financing networks that exploit humanitarian and charitable structures. By targeting entities using sham charities and cryptocurrency, the U.S. Department of State reinforces the need for compliance officers to monitor for innovative typologies and cross-border fundraising schemes. Ensuring that legitimate humanitarian aid is not diverted to sanctioned groups like Hamas is critical for maintaining regulatory compliance and supporting regional stability.
Catch stories like these on your own customers.
complead screens your customers against adverse media, sanctions and PEP lists, and re-checks them every day. When a name you hold turns up in the news, it lands in your case queue with the evidence attached.