US imposes sanctions on the Yemeni businessman HAMID AL AHMAR and 9 of his companies

The US Treasury Department announced on Monday the imposition of sanctions against Hamid al-Ahmar, nine of his companies, and three Arab businessmen.

the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated three individuals and one sham charity that are prominent international financial supporters of Hamas, as well as one Hamas-controlled financial institution in Gaza. OFAC also designated a longstanding Hamas supporter and nine of his businesses. These actors play critical roles in external fundraising for Hamas, often under the guise of charitable work, that finance the group’s terrorist activities. Today’s action, which is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, highlights the abuse of the non-profit organization (NPO) sector by terrorist financiers through the use of sham charities to generate revenue.

HAMID AL AHMAR: INTERNATIONAL HAMAS SUPPORTER AND BUSINESSMAN

Hamid Abdullah Hussein al Ahmar (al Ahmar), a Yemeni national living in Türkiye, is one of the most prominent international supporters of Hamas. He is a key member of Hamas’s once-secret investment portfolio, which at its peak managed over $500 million worth of assets enabling Hamas’s leaders to live in luxury outside the Palestinian territories despite the real humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza. Since at least 2013, Al Ahmar has also been the chairman of the Lebanon-based Hamas sham charity Al-Quds International Foundation, which OFAC designated in October 2012 for being controlled by Hamas.

Al Ahmar is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Hamas. Al Ahmar is also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Al-Quds International Foundation.

OFAC is also designating the following nine entities pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, al Ahmar:

   Al Ahmar Trading Group, based in Yemen.
   Al Ahmar Oils Supply and Distribution, based in Yemen.
   Sama International Media, based in Yemen.
   Al Salam Trading and Agencies General Establishment, based in Yemen. 
   Saba, Trade & Investment S.R.O., based in Czechia.
   Sabafon International SAL (Offshore), based in Lebanon.
   Sabaturk Dis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, based in Türkiye.
   Vivid Enerji Yatirimlari Anonim Sirketi, based in Türkiye.
   Investrade Portfoy Yonetimi Anonim Sirketi, based in Türkiye.