U.S. sanctions Hamas financing network tied to France-based charities, cryptocurrency

WASHINGTON, October 2, 2026 — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned a member of Hamas’ military wing, two France-based individuals and two affiliated organizations as part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt the militant group’s financing networks.

Treasury said the network moved more than $2 million to Hamas over six years through what it described as deceptive charitable fundraising and cryptocurrency channels. About $1.5 million was collected after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, according to the department.

The sanctions target Saleem Abdallah Saleem al-Zaq, whom Treasury identified as a Gaza-based battalion deputy in Hamas’ military wing. Treasury said al-Zaq oversaw a financial network that used money-services businesses and cryptocurrency wallets to transfer funds to Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades.

OFAC also designated France-based Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid, as well as Association Baraka and Ensemble C Mieux, organizations linked to Barika and Oualid respectively. Treasury alleged the organizations presented themselves as charities raising humanitarian aid for Gaza but transferred funds to al-Zaq, who then funneled money to Hamas.

Treasury said Barika, Oualid and al-Zaq collected more than $2 million between 2020 and 2026 and that Barika and Oualid sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency to al-Zaq. Treasury said al-Zaq also promoted their fundraising accounts on social media.

The designations were imposed under Executive Order 13224, the principal U.S. counterterrorism sanctions authority. The action was coordinated with a broader FBI-led operation targeting several Hamas fundraising networks, including operations active in the United States, Treasury said.

As a result of the sanctions, property and interests in property belonging to the designated people and entities that are within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. Entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons are also subject to the restrictions. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions involving them without OFAC authorization.

Treasury also warned that foreign financial institutions knowingly facilitating significant transactions for the designated parties could face secondary sanctions, including restrictions on access to U.S. correspondent or payable-through accounts.