Online news site Gaza now faces US sanctions due to alleged Hamas support

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The United States announced sanctions on Wednesday against online media outlet Gaza Now and its founder Mustafa Ayash, accusing them of supporting the terrorist group Hamas. The decision was made by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which highlighted the organization’s efforts to raise funds for Hamas following the October 7 attack on Israel, the Associated Press reported.

Gaza Now, known for its wide reach on social media platforms, has over 300,000 followers on X (formerly known as Twitter) and a significant presence on the encrypted messaging service, Telegram. The sanctions also target affiliated entities, including Al-Qureshi Executives and Aakhira Limited, as well as their director, Ozma Sultana. These companies are accused of collaborating with Gaza Now in several fundraising activities aimed at supporting Hamas.

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The action was taken in coordination with the United Kingdom’s Foreign Sanctions Implementation Office, a joint effort to counter Hamas’ funding channels. Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson stressed the commitment of the US and its allies to disrupt the financial networks that enable Hamas to carry out further attacks.

As a result of these sanctions, all assets of targeted individuals and entities within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. The move effectively isolates Gaza Now, its founder, and related entities from the US financial system and restricts their ability to trade internationally.

Attempts to reach representatives of Gaza Now and Mustafa Ayash for comment were unsuccessful. These sanctions underscore the US government’s broader strategy to use its financial powers to fight terrorism and its supporters globally.

Also read: UN Security Council demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the first time

Earlier this week, Israel abruptly withdrew its negotiating team from Doha, citing insurmountable obstacles in discussions aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza. According to a high-ranking source familiar with the situation, the reason for the stalling in talks is that Israel considers Hamas’s demands to be unrealistic, representing a worrying interruption in the pursuit of peace during a critical time.

The talks, which momentarily raised hopes of a six-week ceasefire, failed as both sides explored the possibility of releasing 40 Israeli hostages in exchange for reduced tensions. These hostages are among the 130 individuals currently held in Gaza, underscoring the high risks involved in negotiations.

The failure of the talks comes amid allegations by an Israeli official attached to the Mossad intelligence agency against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The official alleges that Sinwar is deliberately undermining diplomatic efforts with the aim of escalating the conflict, especially during the sensitive period of Ramadan, which could potentially escalate tensions.