WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The U.S. announced sanctions on Wednesday against a group of 10 Hamas members and the Palestinian militant organization's financial network across Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and Qatar as it responds to that left more than 1,000 people dead or .
Targeted for sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control are members who manage a Hamas investment portfolio, a Qatar-based financial facilitator with close ties to the Iranian regime, a key Hamas commander and a Gaza-based virtual currency exchange. Iran is .
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. 鈥渋s taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas鈥檚 financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children.鈥�
鈥淭he U.S. Treasury has a long history of effectively disrupting terror finance and we will not hesitate to use our tools against Hamas," she said in an emailed statement.
Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo told reporters on Wednesday that Treasury officials will be traveling to the region in the coming days to further their sanctions work.
, who arrived in the Middle East early Wednesday to show support for Israel, has tried to tamp down tensions in the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, but those efforts have faced massive setbacks, including an that killed about 500 people.
Brian Nelson, U.S. Treasury鈥檚 under secretary for terrorism and illicit finance, said at a Deloitte anti-money laundering conference on Tuesday that the U.S. is renewing its plans to pursue Hamas funding streams and made a call for American allies and the private sector to do the same or 鈥渂e prepared to suffer the consequences.鈥�
鈥淲e cannot, and we will not, tolerate money flowing through the international system for Hamas鈥� terrorist activity,鈥� Nelson said.
鈥淲e want to partner with all willing countries and financial entities to stop Hamas financing," he said "but to the extent that any institution or jurisdiction fails to take appropriate action, they should then be prepared to suffer the consequences.鈥�
The shadowy leader of Hamas鈥� military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the Oct. 7 assault on Israel was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and the growth of settlements, among other reasons.
鈥淓nough is enough,鈥� Deif, who does not appear in public, said in the recorded message. He said the attack was only the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, and he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight.
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This story has been corrected to show Biden arrived in the Middle East early Wednesday, not late Tuesday.
Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press
