Rubio Says New Sanctions on Hamas ‘Good Step’ But Not Enough

Washington- Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fl) welcomed the announcement of new sanctions on Hamas by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Today, November 14th, the US and United Kingdom announced joint action to impose a third round of sanctions on Hamas-affiliated individuals and entities.  

The new sanctions expand the list of individuals and entities whose property and interests in property will be blocked and reported to OFAC.

Rubio expressed his support for the sanctions, but suggested they come too late and are insufficient. 

“A third round of sanctions targeting Hamas’ backers is a good step. But, if Congress passed my Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, these sanctions would've been in place before the 10/7 attack,” said Rubio.

 

The companion to Rubio’s bill was recently passed by the US House of Representatives. 

Representative Brian Mast (R-Fl) sponsored the bill and welcomed its passage. 

“The United States needs to send a clear message that anyone or any group that enables these barbarians will not go unpunished and that the U.S. will never waiver in its commitment to freedom,” said Representative Mast. 

Now, Rubio is pressing his Senate colleagues to pass the bill “without delay.” 

Yet, a similar version of the bill failed to pass the Senate after being approved by the House in 2021. 

The current act was originally filed last January, but Hamas’ despotic October 7th attacks made passing the bill a bipartisan priority for House lawmakers. 

Whether Hamas’ actions will also spur the Senate to action is yet to be decided.