OFAC Adds Three Charities to Sanctions List for Supporting Hamas

You might care about this because the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, known as OFAC, has recently taken action against several organizations. OFAC announced that it has added three groups to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, also known as the SDN List. This means that these groups are now subject to strict financial restrictions. The listed groups are KOMITE NASIONAL UNTUK RAKYAT PALESTINA (KNRP INDONESIA), GHAZI DESTEK DERNEGI (GDD) from Turkey, and PALESTINIAN WHITE HANDS ASSISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION, also from Turkey. These organizations are charities or nonprofit groups. OFAC determined that these entities materially assisted, sponsored, or provided support to HAMAS. HAMAS is already on a list of groups whose property and interests are blocked by the U.S. government. As a result of this action, any property or financial interests these newly listed groups have in the U.S. are now blocked. Also, people and companies in the U.S. are generally not allowed to conduct any business or transactions with these designated organizations. This measure aims to cut off financial support to groups that the U.S. considers terrorist organizations. This notice is a formal announcement of these new sanctions, which became effective on March 12, 2026. This action is particularly interesting because it targets charities and nonprofit organizations. It shows that the U.S. government is closely watching how funds are moved globally, even through groups that claim to be humanitarian. The government is emphasizing that providing any kind of material, financial, or even technological support to a designated group like HAMAS carries serious consequences. This notice serves as a strong reminder to all organizations and individuals about the importance of knowing who they are doing business with and where their money is going. Even if an organization has a charitable purpose, if it is found to be supporting a sanctioned entity, it can face severe penalties. This move underlines the U.S. commitment to disrupting financial networks that support terrorism. It also highlights the government's use of executive orders, specifically Executive Order 13224, to combat such activities. The fact that these are international organizations, based in Indonesia and Turkey, shows the global reach of U.S. sanctions. It reinforces the message that financial support for designated groups, regardless of location, can lead to inclusion on the SDN List. Anyone involved in international finance, banking, or compliance would be very interested in this document. This includes financial institutions, banks, and money transfer services that operate globally. They need to update their watchlists and ensure they do not accidentally process transactions for these newly sanctioned entities. Humanitarian aid organizations and charities working in or with groups in the Middle East or Southeast Asia should also pay close attention. They must be extra careful to verify the legitimacy and affiliations of their partners to avoid any inadvertent support for sanctioned groups. Legal professionals specializing in sanctions law, international trade law, or compliance will find this notice important for advising their clients. Businesses and individuals engaged in international trade, particularly those with connections to Indonesia or Turkey, should review this information. Governments and foreign policy analysts will also follow these developments closely. This action affects how international aid is provided and how financial transactions are monitored across borders.