Hamas demands US walk back latest sanctions on Palestinian nonprofits

Hamas condemns as “unjust” a move by the United States to sanction Palestinian associations that Washington accused of having links to the Islamist terror group.

The US yesterday imposed sanctions on six nonprofit organizations working in the Gaza Strip, which the Treasury Department said “claim to provide medical care to Palestinian civilians but in fact support the military wing of Hamas.”

It also announced sanctions on a group of Palestinians involved in civilian flotillas that aim to break Israel’s sea blockade on Gaza, ostensibly to bring in humanitarian aid.

The Treasury Department said the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad has been “a main organizer” of the flotillas and charged that it was “clandestinely acting on behalf of Hamas.”

“We view these decisions as unjust and oppressive,” Hamas says in a statement, claiming the sanctions were incited by Israel as a fight against the Palestinian “national cause.”

All the organizations were accused of “secret ties to Hamas” in the US Treasury statement.

The sanctions will block any assets the groups have in the United States and criminalize transactions with them.

Hamas calls on Washington to walk back its decision.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.