Sun. Oct 6th, 2024

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad: EU Council adds people and companies to sanctions list

Jun 29, 2024 , ,

Brussels, 28 June 2024

The EU Council decided on Friday to list six individuals and three entities responsible for participating in the financing of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) or enabling their violent actions.

The Council is listing three companies – Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Co Ltd., Larrycom for Investment Ltd. and Al Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Sociedad limitada – owned and controlled by Sudan-based financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, who has been subject to EU restrictive measures since January 2024. All three entities have been linked to Hamas’ investment portfolio, and served as front companies to facilitate Hamas financial streams.

Individual listings include Jamil Yusuf Ahmad Aliyan, a PIJ official and leader of the Muhjat AlQuds Foundation, which is an Iran-funded organisation whose primary mission is to provide financial support to the families of PIJ fighters and prisoners.

Furthermore, the Council sanctioned Ahmed Sharif Abdallah Odeh, who leads Hamas’s foreign investment activities and is a shareholder and a board member of several front companies for Hamas; Zuheir Shamlakh, a financial facilitator and money changer who enables financial transfers from Iran to Hamas; and Ismail Barhoum a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, who heads the Hamas’ Charitable Institutions Association supervising 400 charities, and channelling funds to Hamas.

Lastly, the Council is listing Ali Morshed Shirazi, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Quds Force (IRGC-QF) official serving as Bureau Chief of the Palestine Branch operating out of Lebanon, and Maher Rebhi Obeid, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau since 2010, who is responsible for directing Hamas’ terrorist operatives in the West Bank.

With today’s listings, a total of 12 individuals and three entities are sanctioned under the framework of restrictive measures against Hamas and the PIJ.

Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze. The provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed.

Background

On 7 October 2023, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on the attacks against Israel, condemning in the strongest possible terms the multiple and indiscriminate attacks across Israel by Hamas and deeply deploring the loss of lives.

On 19 January 2024, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/385 establishing a dedicated framework of restrictive measures that allows the European Union to hold accountable any individual or entity who supports, facilitates or enables violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). This regime also complements the restrictive measures previously adopted against Hamas and the PIJ under Common Position 2001/931/CFSP (the ‘EU terrorist list’).

In its conclusions of 22 and 23 March 2024, the European Council called on the Council to accelerate work on the adoption of further relevant restrictive measures against Hamas.

In its conclusions of 27 June, the European Council welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 and called for the full implementation of the terms of the ceasefire proposal without delay and without conditions, which would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and an enduring ceasefire and end to the crisis, with Israel’s security interests and safety for Palestinian civilians assured.

The EU reiterated its unwavering commitment to lasting and sustainable peace in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, on the basis of the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition.

The European Union will continue to work with international partners towards reviving a political process to this end.

Source – EU Council

 

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