RELEASE: Gottheimer, Mast Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Sanction Financial Supporters of Foreign Terror Organization Hamas

U.S. Congressmen Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Brian Mast (FL-21) reintroduced the bipartisan Hamas International Financing Prevention Act. The bipartisan bill imposes sanctions on foreign persons, agencies, and governments that assist Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or their affiliates.

“Israel, our key ally and the only democracy in the Middle East, continues to endure threats from militant jihadists and extremists like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These groups have long targeted innocent Israeli civilians and are dedicated to the annihilation of the Jewish state — they exist solely to destroy it. These terrorists have also killed countless Americans and our allies. I remain committed to ensuring that we isolate and punish radical terrorist groups like Hamas and PIJ by cutting off their financial resources,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).

“Following my service in the Army, I chose to volunteer alongside the Israeli Defense Forces because our countries share the common ideals of freedom, democracy and mutual respect for all people,” Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) said. “The United States cannot reward any person, group or government who supports radical Islamic terrorists that chant destruction of Israel and the values we hold dear.”

Hamas and PIJ are foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated as such by the United States government. Hamas is responsible for the deaths of more than 400 Israelis and dozens of United States citizens. 

The Hamas International Financing Prevention Act passed the House of Representatives as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.

The full text of the legislation can be found here. 

The bipartisan Hamas International Financing Prevention Act includes the following provisions:

• The Hamas International Financing Prevention Act requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report for the next three years identifying foreign persons, agencies or instrumentalities of a foreign state who knowingly and materially assist Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or an affiliate or successor of one of those organizations. 

• After identifying the organizations, the President must impose two or more sanctions, including denying
  • Export-Import guarantees; 
  • Defense support under the Arms Export Control Act; 
  • Export of munitions to any agreement to which a person identified is a part;
  • Export of goods or technology controlled for national security reasons;
  • Loans more than $10 million; and 
  • Seizure of property held within the United States.

• The bill also requires the President to report to Congress on each government that provides support for acts of terrorism and provides material support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or any affiliate or successor organization, or the President determines to have engaged in a significant transaction to knowingly and materially provide support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad or any affiliate or successor organization. 

• After identifying the governments, the President must suspend U.S. assistance to that government for one year, instruct the executive directors of each international finance institution to vote against any loan or technical assistance to that government and prohibit any munitions export to that government for one year. 

• Additionally, the President must prohibit that government’s transactions in foreign exchanges that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and prevent that government’s transfers of credits or payments between financial institutions subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

###