The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against four individuals linked to a pro-Hamas flotilla and several key actors within Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks. These actions target the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) and other international partners that the Treasury says Hamas uses to expand political influence and facilitate terrorist activity.
Targeting “Pro-Terror” Maritime Efforts
The Treasury Department identified the maritime flotillas attempting to reach Gaza as a risk to regional stability. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent described the pro-terror flotilla as a “ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region,” vowing to sever Hamas’ global financial support networks.
OFAC designated Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek, a Spain-based member of the PCPA General Secretariat and member of the flotilla’s Steering Committee and Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfuz, the Jordan-based acting Secretary General and President of the PCPA.
the Treasury targeted Samidoun, which it describes as a front organization for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Designated individuals include Belgium-based European coordinator Mohammed Khatib and Madrid-based coordinator Jaldia Abubakra Aueda.
Muslim Brotherhood and Gaza Influence
The sanctions also extend to networks operating within Gaza and Egypt. The Treasury designated Marwan Abu Ras and the Palestinian Scholars Association for acting on behalf of Hamas. This organization was part of a 2014 effort by Hamas leaders to merge religious bodies to ensure all religious discourse in Gaza aligned with Hamas’ ideology.
In Egypt, the Treasury targeted HASM, a violent offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. Karim Sayed Ahmed Moghny, a Hamas operative, was designated for directing militant activity and collaborating with HASM between 2021 and 2025 to attack Israeli interests.
Another operative, Muhammad Jamal Hassan Al-Najjar, was sanctioned for efforts to fund salaries for Hamas members and working with HASM member Sherif Ahmed Ewis Ahmed to acquire weapons and explosives.
Financial and Legal Consequences
Under Executive Order 13224, all property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or under U.S. Control are now blocked. Any entity owned 50 percent or more by these blocked persons is also subject to these restrictions.
U.S. Persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving these blocked persons. Violations could result in civil or criminal penalties, and foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions for these individuals may risk secondary sanctions.
What May Happen Next
The U.S. Government may continue to expand its list of designated individuals as it tracks the financial flows of the PCPA and Samidoun. Financial institutions are likely to increase scrutiny of nonprofit organizations operating in conflict zones to avoid compliance risks associated with “humanitarian” fronts.
Further actions could involve tightening restrictions on foreign banks that maintain correspondent accounts in the U.S. While dealing with these sanctioned networks. The Treasury may also seek further evidence of Muslim Brotherhood influence in other regional religious organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PCPA?
The Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) is a U.S.-designated organization that claims to represent the Palestinian diaspora but was established with funding from Hamas’s International Relations Bureau and is directed by Hamas officials.
What is the relationship between Samidoun and the PFLP?
Samidoun is described by the Treasury as a front organization for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), serving as a fundraising platform in countries where the PFLP faces legal restrictions.
Who is HASM?
HASM is an Egypt-based violent offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood committed to conducting terrorist attacks against civilians.
Do you believe financial sanctions are the most effective tool for disrupting international terrorist support networks?
