The Japanese government is weighing a measure to freeze the assets of nine Hamas leaders and key members who steer the organization’s finances, including cryptocurrency funds and exchanges linked to the Gaza Strip, according to television reports. The move aims to disrupt the group’s financial channels and hamper its operations from abroad. While the detailed scope and mechanisms of the asset freeze are being finalized, officials indicate that the plan targets individuals who play central roles in funding Hamas activities and managing its money flows across various platforms.
As discussions proceed, observers note that the intended sanctions would form part of a broader framework designed to cut off critical financial support for Hamas. Officials have underscored the importance of restricting access to funds held by the group or funneled through affiliated networks, which in recent years have included a mix of traditional financial instruments and more modern channels such as cryptocurrency-related assets. The final approval for the sanctions package is expected to come at a government cabinet meeting scheduled for late October, marking a decisive step in tightening financial pressure on the organization.
In parallel, the United States has already imposed sanctions on key Hamas officials and financial networks in response to the October 7 attacks in Israel. The U.S. Treasury’s actions broadened the net to include additional assets tied to Hamas’s investment portfolio and related entities, signaling a coordinated international approach to curb the group’s funding mechanisms. The list highlighted individuals and at least one organization connected to Hamas’s global financial network, with the aim of constraining illicit revenue streams that sustain operations and hostage-related activities.
Hamas has previously signaled a willingness to leverage hostages in negotiation terms, suggesting that any such moves would be contingent on evolving conditions on the ground. The dynamic underscores the complex interplay between humanitarian, political, and security considerations that accompany sanctions regimes. Governments continue to emphasize the need for careful, targeted measures that minimize humanitarian impact while maximizing pressure on financial networks supporting the group. The ongoing discussions reflect the broader objective of disrupting illicit fundraising, preventing the transfer of funds through obscure channels, and isolating Hamas from conventional and non-state financial ecosystems. In this context, international cooperation and regular reviews of sanction lists are expected to remain central to policy adaptations as events unfold.