Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed orders today imposing restrictions on some 20 parties involved in Hamas’ investment mechanism, estimated in the millions of dollars. The orders designate these entities as associated with terrorism and include property seizures as well as personal sanctions on some Hamas senior figures. Several of the companies and people designated today have already been designated by US authorities as such.

Gantz tweeted, "Following joint work by the Shin Bet, the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing, the Defense Ministry and the Intelligence Division of the IDF, I signed orders today that will impose restrictions on Hamas' international investment system, whose scope of activity is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. The orders will also impose personal sanctions on senior officials of the organization, including the head of the investment system and member of the Hamas Shura Council Usama Ali."

Gantz added, "We will continue to support the transfer of funds for citizens and act against any attempt to funnel money intended to militarily strengthen the terrorist organization Hamas."

A statement by the Defense Ministry read that Hamas “covertly manages a mechanism valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, through a network of international companies that operate under the guise of legitimate companies” that conceal Hamas’ control of their holdings. “In this manner, the investment system has deceived authorities, customers and suppliers (including banks), which were unaware of the terrorist organization's ownership and control of these companies,” the statement added.