The U.S. Treasury today imposed sanctions against two firms in Gaza – the Islamic National Bank and Al-Aqsa TV – for their ties to Hamas.
 
The Treasury said the sanctions prohibit Americans from transactions with the entities, and that they seek to freeze any assets the entities may have that are under U.S. jurisdiction.

The treasury lists Hamas as a "specially designated global terrorist" organization, and says that the sanctions were imposed against Islamic National Bank, opened by Hamas in April 2009 for providing financial services to Hamas members and employees, including members of its military wing. It said that the bank lacks a legal license from the Palestinian Monetary Authority and operates outside the legitimate financial system. In May 2009, the Treasury said Hamas' finance office in Gaza moved €1.1 million into the Islamic National Bank and used the funds to pay salaries of Hamas military wing members who held accounts at the bank. 

The treasury also stated that Al-Aqsa TV is financed and controlled by Hamas and serves as a primary Hamas media outlet that airs programs "designed to recruit children to become Hamas armed fighters and suicide bombers upon reaching adulthood."

For the MEMRI TV page on Al-Aqsa TV, click here 

Source: Almanar.com.lb, March 18, 2010