US, Britain Sanction Gaza Now Media Channel Over Hamas Fundraising

US and UK authorities unveiled sanctions Wednesday against two people and three companies related to the popular media channel Gaza Now over its fundraising efforts in support of Hamas.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that Gaza Now, whose popular Telegram channel has more than 1.8 million followers, and its founder Mustafa Ayash, started fundraising for Hamas after its unprecedented attack on October 7.

That attack resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, and the capture of around 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 32,414 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. 

"Treasury remains committed to degrading Hamas' ability to finance its terrorist activities, including through online fundraising campaigns that seek to funnel money directly to the group," US Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement. 

The Treasury Department accused the group of "having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Hamas." 

The US also unveiled sanctions against Aozma Sultana, the director of two companies that allegedly gave "thousands of dollars to Gaza Now and advertised Gaza Now as a partner during a joint fundraiser shortly after the October 7 terrorist attack."

The Treasury Department's actions are being carried out alongside similar actions by the UK authorities. 

"The UK Government has announced a full asset freeze against two individuals suspected of providing financial support for Gaza Now -- a news agency that promotes the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist groups," the UK Treasury said in a statement.

"All funds and economic resources in the UK belonging to or controlled by Sultana and Ayash have been frozen," they added.

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