US Disrupts Hamas Funding
US Treasury Sanctions Senior Muslim Brotherhood Official, Disrupting Transnational Hamas Funding Network
Anonymous
Key Points
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Mahmoud al-Abyari’s role and fundraising ties: Al-Abyari is a UK-based senior leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and serves as Secretary General of the MB General Secretariat; he was designated for acting on behalf of the MB and for supporting fundraising for entities tied to Hamas (including previously sanctioned groups Filistin Vakfi and Hayat Yolu).
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Specific designations beyond the MB official: The round includes Indonesia-based Tujah Bulah Global (also known as Seven Spikes Global), Gaza-based Madad Palestine Charitable Society, and Turkey-based El-Kahira for General Trading; the owner is Khaldoon Khamis Zakaria Eldeen, with shareholders Zaied Essam Ahmed Aljuboori and Abdallah Essam Ahmed Al-Jebouri.
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Underground banking and crypto-related support: El-Kahira for General Trading is cited for providing underground banking services, including cryptocurrency-related avenues, to networks associated with Hamas and Sweden-based organized crime groups (Foxtrot Network).
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Madad Palestine Charitable Society and related front schemes: Funds attributed to Madad Palestine Charitable Society were reportedly raised to aid civilians but diverted by Hamas for its military wing; the sanctions also designate two sham charities linked to MB as part of a multi-layered fundraising typology.
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Coordination, authorities, and legal framework: The action is carried out under Executive Order 13224 with interagency coordination involving the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection; sanctions also warn of secondary sanctions risk for foreign financial institutions facilitating significant transactions.
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a UK-based senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood official and six others for funneling money to Hamas, according to i24 News. The targets include front charities and underground banking networks spanning Egypt, the UK, Indonesia, Gaza, and Türkiye.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration will "relentlessly pursue" terrorists and those who finance them, "including those operating through charitable façades and underground networks." The action was coordinated with the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Voice of Emirates reported.
Who Is Mahmoud al-Abyari and Why He Was Targeted
Mahmoud al-Abyari serves as Secretary General of the Muslim Brotherhood General Secretariat. He is based in the UK and holds a senior leadership role in the Egyptian MB. The Treasury designated him for acting on behalf of the MB and supporting fundraising tied to Hamas, according to Columbus Jewish News.
Al-Abyari's fundraising links include two previously sanctioned groups: Filistin Vakfi and Hayat Yolu. Both were already on U.S. sanctions lists. His designation adds a new layer of pressure on the MB's international financing arm, Sada News reported.
Front Charities and Shell Companies Moved Money to Hamas
The Treasury also designated three entities. Indonesia-based Tujah Bulah Global, also known as Seven Spikes Global, was named. So was Gaza-based Madad Palestine Charitable Society. Funds raised by Madad under the guise of civilian aid were diverted to Hamas's military wing, according to i24 News.
The third entity is Turkey-based El-Kahira for General Trading. Its owner, Khaldoon Khamis Zakaria Eldeen, and two shareholders — Zaied Essam Ahmed Aljuboori and Abdallah Essam Ahmed Al-Jebouri — were also designated. Treasury says the network used sham charities and informal channels to disguise money transfers, Voice of Emirates reported.
Crypto and Underground Banking Tied to Hamas and Organized Crime
El-Kahira for General Trading did more than move cash. Treasury says it provided underground banking services to Hamas-linked networks. Those services included cryptocurrency channels. The same company also served the Foxtrot Network, a Sweden-based organized crime group, according to Columbus Jewish News.
This connection is notable. It links Hamas financing directly to European criminal networks. The multi-layered system used businesses, charities, and informal banking to hide where the money went and who sent it, MLex reported.
Legal Authority and Risks for Foreign Banks Doing Business With These Groups
The sanctions were issued under Executive Order 13224, the main U.S. legal tool for targeting terrorist financing. All property tied to the designated individuals and entities is now blocked. U.S. persons are banned from doing business with them, Sada News reported.
Foreign banks face risk too. Treasury warned that any foreign financial institution that processes significant transactions for these groups could face secondary sanctions. That means being cut off from the U.S. financial system — a major penalty for any global bank, according to i24 News.
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