The US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) sanctions against six non-profit organizations based in Gaza and against the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, accusing them all of being part of a secret network supporting Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
The sanctioned entities in Gaza are: Waed Society, Al-Nur Society, Qawafil Society, Al-Falah Society, Merciful Hands, and Al-Salameh Society.
According to the US government, these organizations present themselves as independent and dedicated to helping the Palestinian civilian population, including offering medical care and other humanitarian services.
In reality, they are integrated into Hamas’s military apparatus, serving as fronts to raise funds from foreign donors and transfer resources directly to the terrorist group.
Documents captured from Hamas offices after the October 7, 2023 attacks revealed clear instructions for fighters and group members to use these entities to solicit projects, services, and support.
In some cases, members of Hamas’s internal security forces were formally assigned to work for these purported NGOs, such as the Waed Society and the Al-Salameh Society.
Others, like Merciful Hands, Al-Nur, and Al-Falah, allegedly transferred money directly to Hamas’s armed wing, including significant sums in recent years.
Furthermore, the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, operating outside Gaza, was sanctioned for acting as a Hamas-organized front.
This conference follows guidelines from the group’s Bureau of International Relations and is involved in political influence operations, such as the recent organization of flotillas that attempted to break the Israeli maritime blockade of Gaza.
A senior UK-based official, Zaher Khaled Hassan Birawi, was also included in the sanctions for his role in this network.
The U.S. Treasury highlighted that Hamas employs a cynical practice of operating behind the scenes of civilian organizations, endangering the Palestinian population and undermining efforts to build a lasting and prosperous peace in the region.
U.S. officials emphasized their commitment to ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the country through trusted and secure organizations, while supporting stabilization in Gaza.
John Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that Hamas demonstrates a cruel disregard for the well-being of Palestinians and that the Trump administration will not turn a blind eye while the group’s leaders and enablers exploit the financial system to fund terrorist operations.
Tommy Pigott, Deputy State Department Press Secretary, reinforced that the U.S. is determined to expose and disrupt these deceptive practices.
With these measures, the United States seeks to dismantle hidden channels of Hamas funding and strengthen oversight of charitable networks, preventing resources intended for humanitarian aid from being diverted to terrorist activities.
Published in 01/22/2026 12h15
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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