Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza, as seen from Ashkelon. The US is targeting Hamas funding with sanctions. Reuters
Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza, as seen from Ashkelon. The US is targeting Hamas funding with sanctions. Reuters
Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza, as seen from Ashkelon. The US is targeting Hamas funding with sanctions. Reuters
Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza, as seen from Ashkelon. The US is targeting Hamas funding with sanctions. Reuters

US targets Hamas financing with terror-related sanctions


Kyle Fitzgerald
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Washington targeted 10 individuals linked to Hamas following the group's attack on Israel in a set of terrorism-related sanctions on Wednesday.

The sanctions aim to disrupt Hamas funding by targeting members managing a “secret Hamas investment portfolio”, as well as one financial facilitator with ties to Tehran and a Gaza-based virtual currency, the Treasury Department said.

Financial facilitators in Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and Qatar were also targeted.

“The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas’s financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.

Ms Yellen said the country will continue to take steps to deny Hamas the ability to raise funds by co-ordinating with Washington's allies to track and freeze any assets associated with the group, which the US has designated a terrorist organisation.

“The US Treasury has a long history of effectively disrupting terror finance and we will not hesitate to use our tools against Hamas,” she said.

A Gaza-based virtual currency exchange business, Buy Cash Money and Money Transfer Company, is alleged to be involved in Hamas fund-raising and used to transfer funds to other terrorist groups. Israel seized a wallet belonging to Buy Cash in June 2021.

Hamas relies on cryptocurrency to evade other US sanctions.

A bipartisan group of 102 lawmakers on Tuesday had urged the Treasury Department and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on steps the Biden administration was talking to address Hamas's access to cryptocurrencies.

“Congress and this administration must take strong action to thoroughly address crypto illicit finance risks before it can be used to finance another tragedy,” the lawmakers wrote.

Two senior Hamas operatives were targeted, including Muhammad Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah, who the US describes as a “longtime Hamas operative based in Qatar with close ties to Iranian elements”. Mr Nasrallah has allegedly been involved in transferring tens of millions of dollars to Hamas and its military wing.

Six people linked to the Hamas investment portfolio were sanctioned. One of them, Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, had previously been involved in transferring nearly $20 million to Hamas.

Washington's sanctions come as President Joe Biden visits Israel to demonstrate US support for the country.

Air Force One landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday morning, where Mr Biden was pictured embracing officials hours after more than 500 people were killed in a missile strike at Gaza's Al Ahli Arab hospital.

Hamas and Arab countries have blamed Israel, which has denied responsibility. Mr Biden said the strike appeared to have been done by “the other team”, pointing to data given to him by the Defence Department.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

RESULTS
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

It

Director: Andres Muschietti

Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor

Three stars

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

Fund-raising tips for start-ups

Develop an innovative business concept

Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors

Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19

Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.) 

Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months

Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses

Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business

* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna

Kandahar%20
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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Wonka
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Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

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The details

Colette

Director: Wash Westmoreland

Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West

Our take: 3/5

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

WHAT IS GRAPHENE?

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. 

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Updated: October 18, 2023, 1:53 PM`