US sanctions Hamas-linked finance network, including two France-based charities
The US Treasury sanctioned three individuals and two France-based charities on 2 October, saying they moved more than $2 million to Hamas through charitable fronts and cryptocurrency.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2The US Treasury announced sanctions on Friday 2 October 2026 against three individuals and two France-based charities that it said were part of a network that raised more than $2 million for Hamas. Arab NewsRC “The United States on Friday issued sanctions against three individuals and two France-based charities that it said were part of a network that raised more than $2 million for Palestinian armed group Hamas.” Read at Arab News ↗ Just the NewsRC “announced Friday it designated a member of Hamas’s military wing, along with two France-based individuals and two affiliated entities” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2The Treasury said the designations expose a "sophisticated, multi-year financing architecture" that moved the money through "deceptive charitable fronts and cryptocurrency channels", showing Hamas's ability to adapt its fundraising to evade detection. Arab NewsRC “moved more than $2 million to Hamas through deceptive charitable fronts and cryptocurrency channels” Read at Arab News ↗ Just the NewsRC “demonstrating the organization’s persistent ability to adapt its fundraising mechanisms to evade detection” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2Those named include Saleem Abdallah Saleem Al-Zaq, described by the Treasury as a Hamas member who oversees the financial network; AFP says he works with the group's media office, while Just the News describes the person designated as a member of Hamas's military wing. Arab NewsRC “identified as a Hamas member who oversees the financial network and works with the group’s media office” Read at Arab News ↗ Just the NewsRC “designated a member of Hamas’s military wing” Read at Just the News ↗
Right · 1Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid, linked to the charities Association Baraka and Ensemble C Mieux, were also sanctioned, and both charities were named. Arab NewsRC “Also sanctioned were Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid, linked to the France-based charities Association Baraka and Ensemble C Mieux.” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 1The Treasury said Barika and Oualid operate from France, where they run purported charities ostensibly to raise money for humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians. Arab NewsRC “where they run purported charities ostensibly to raise money for humanitarian purposes to aid Gazan civilians” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 1According to the Treasury, the network raised more than $2 million between 2020 and 2026, of which $1.5 million came after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. Arab NewsRC “raised more than $2 million from 2020 to 2026, of which $1.5 million was raised after the October 7, 2023 attack” Read at Arab News ↗
Right · 1Just the News reports the designations are part of a broader, multi-jurisdictional operation led by the FBI to dismantle several Hamas fundraising ventures, including some active inside the United States. Just the NewsRC “a broader, multi-jurisdictional operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to dismantle several Hamas fundraising ventures, including those active inside the United States” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that Treasury will keep identifying, isolating and imposing consequences on those who give Hamas the financial lifelines it needs to survive. Just the NewsRC “Treasury will continue to identify, isolate, and impose consequences on those who provide Hamas with the financial lifelines it needs to survive” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1AFP added context on the war: Hamas's 2023 attack killed 1,221 people by its tally of official Israeli figures, and Israel's response has killed more than 74,000 people according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable; the ministry says Israeli forces have killed more than 1,400 since last October's ceasefire. Arab NewsRC “which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures”“Israeli forces have killed more than 1,400 people since a ceasefire was announced last October” Read at Arab News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay the Treasury's account of a deceptive charity-and-crypto financing scheme. Arab News (AFP wire) names the individuals and charities and adds Gaza war context; Just the News leads with an FBI-led operation and a Bessent quote.
- Emphasis
- Treasury's description of the network, the amounts raised, and (Just the News) the wider FBI operation including US-based ventures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries a response from the sanctioned individuals, the charities, Hamas or French authorities. Just the News omits names and the 2020-2026 timeframe; Arab News omits the FBI operation.
- Charged language
- “deceptive charitable fronts”“purported charities”“dismantles”
- For example
-
“Treasury Department dismantles Hamas financing network” — Just the News
“US sanctions alleged Hamas finance network, including two France-based charities” — Arab News
What every side reports
- The US Treasury sanctioned individuals and two France-based entities on 2 October 2026.
- The Treasury says the network moved more than $2 million to Hamas via charitable fronts and cryptocurrency.
Where accounts differ
-
Role of the designated Hamas member
- Right
- Arab News (AFP) says Al-Zaq oversees the network and works with Hamas's media office; Just the News calls the designated person a member of Hamas's military wing.
Treasury Department organisation
Presents the action as exposing a sophisticated, multi-year scheme using fake charities and cryptocurrency, and vows to keep targeting Hamas financiers.
“Treasury will continue to identify, isolate, and impose consequences on those who provide Hamas with the financial lifelines it needs to survive.” — Just the News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Treasury Department dismantles Hamas financing network
Mixed Short report that frames the action as dismantling Hamas financing, within an FBI-led operation, quoting Bessent.
-
Arab NewsRC · · via AFP
US sanctions alleged Hamas finance network, including two France-based charities
Neutral AFP wire copy attributing the allegations to the Treasury, with names, figures and broader Gaza war context.
- 2 Oct 15:43 First Arab NewsRC US sanctions alleged Hamas finance network, including two France-based charities via AFP
- 2 Oct 20:06 +4h 23m Just the NewsRC Treasury Department dismantles Hamas financing network
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.