WASHINGTON – The United States has placed the name of Ismail Haniya, head of the Palestinian movement Hamas, on its terror blacklist and slapped sanctions on him, months after recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Haniya, 55, had succeeded Khaled Meshaal as new overall leader of the Palestinian fighters group in May last year. The group is of view that the US move not deter its resistance against illegal occupants.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/ismail-haniya-replaces-khaled-meshaal-as-new-hamas-leader/
The State Department also designated Harakat al-Sabireen, Liwa al Thawra, and Harakat Sawa’d Misr (HASM) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.
In announcing these designations, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson emphasized that “these designations target key terrorist groups and leaders – including two sponsored and directed by Iran – who are threatening the stability of the Middle East, undermining the peace process, and attacking our allies Egypt and Israel. Today’s actions are an important step in denying them the resources they need to plan and carry out their terrorist activities.”
According to a press release issued by the State Department on Wednesday, “Ismail Haniyeh is the leader and President of the Political Bureau of Hamas, which was designated in 1997 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and in 2001 as an SDGT”.
It added, “Haniyeh has close links with Hamas’ military wing and has been a proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians. He has reportedly been involved in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Hamas has been responsible for an estimated 17 American lives killed in terrorist attacks.”
It said, “Among other consequences, all of their property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.”
