WASHINGTON- The United States on Wednesday put the head of Palestinianmovement Hamas, Ismail Haniya, on its terror blacklist and slappedsanctions on him — a move sure to raise tensions, after Washingtonrecognized Jerusalem as Israel´s capital.
The 55-year-old Haniya, who was named head of Hamas in May 2017, representsthe movement´s more pragmatic wing.
“Haniya has close links with Hamas´ military wing and has been a proponentof armed struggle, including against civilians,” the State Department saidin a statement.
“He has reportedly been involved in terrorist attacks against Israelicitizens. Hamas has been responsible for an estimated 17 American liveskilled in terrorist attacks.”
Haniya is now on the US Treasury sanctions blacklist, which freezes anyUS-based assets he may have and bans any US person or company from doingbusiness with him.
Hamas — which has controlled the Gaza Strip for more than a decade — hadalready been on the US terror blacklist since 1997.
The US government also slapped sanctions on Harakat al-Sabireen in Gaza –and two other groups active in Egypt: Liwa al-Thawra and HASM.
“These designations target key terrorist groups and leaders — includingtwo sponsored and directed by Iran — who are threatening the stability ofthe Middle East, undermining the peace process, and attacking our alliesEgypt and Israel,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.
“Today´s actions are an important step in denying them the resources theyneed to plan and carry out their terrorist activities.”
Haniya replaced Khaled Meshaal, who now lives in Doha in exile, atop theHamas movement. Unlike Meshaal, Haniya will remain in the Gaza Strip.
Also known as Abu Abed, Haniya was born in Gaza´s Shati refugee camp inJanuary 1963 to parents who fled when Israel was created in 1948.
Hamas has frequently highlighted his modest background as a counterpoint toofficials within president Mahmud Abbas´s Palestinian Authority, who havebeen accused of being corrupt and too easily compliant with Israel or theUnited States.
Relations between Washington and the Palestinians have been severelystrained since US President Donald Trump broke with decades of policy inDecember to name Jerusalem as Israel´s capital.
The Hamas leader voiced rage over the decision, saying it “crosses everyred line,” and called for a new intifada, or uprising.
“This Zionist policy supported by the US cannot be confronted unless weignite a new intifada,” Haniya said.
Days of sometimes violent demonstrations in the Palestinian territories andother parts of the Middle East ensued. Washington says the new embassy willopen in Jerusalem in 2019.