US and UK impose fresh sanctions on Hamas, targeting money transfers from Iran to Gaza

The US and UK have imposed fresh sanctions on the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, targeting money transfers from Iran to Gaza. The US Treasury Department said in a statement that the sanctions target Iranian financial entities used by Hamas to move money to Gaza to finance its “destructive activities”. The UK’s Department for International Development added in a separate statement that the sanctions are intended to “vigorously target” the group’s ability to direct funds towards “uncompromising acts of violence”. The sanctions come amid growing tension between the US and Iran over the nuclear deal, and as progress made towards a new Palestinian-Israeli peace deal looks increasingly elusive.