What’s happening:
The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for intelligence that would help disrupt the financial activities of Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization. The initiative is part of the Rewards for Justice Program, and targets specific individuals involved in monetary support for the group.
Why it matters:
This significant bounty underscores the ongoing US commitment to countering terrorism by focusing on the economic underpinnings that allow terrorist organizations to thrive. By targeting the financial enablers of Hamas, the State Department aims to restrict the group’s operational capabilities, demonstrating sustained efforts in the global fight against terror financing.
The targets:
The individuals identified by the Rewards for Justice Program include Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Khair, Amer Kamal Sharif Alshawa, Ahmed Sadu Jahleb, Walid Mohammed Mustafa Jadallah, and Muhammad Ahmad ‘Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah. They are respectively associated with Hamas’s investment activities in Sudan and Turkey, as well as with the transfer of funds from Iranian entities to the military wing of Hamas. The US Department of Treasury has previously designated these individuals as specially designated global terrorists (SDGT).
How to provide information:
The State Department is soliciting tips regarding any revenue source for Hamas, details about its donors, financial facilitators, and investments, as well as criminal schemes that benefit the organization financially. Informants can confidentially relay information through Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp to the contact number provided by the Rewards for Justice Program.
The impact:
Efforts to cut off financial support to Hamas can not only weaken the organization’s ability to conduct operations but also serve as a warning to potential financial facilitators regarding the consequences of supporting terrorism. Information provided through this program could play a critical role in destabilizing the economic infrastructure of terrorist organizations.
This story was first published on jpost.com.