U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., scored a win as his “Hamas International Financing Prevention Act” recently cleared the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“In light of the horrific war crimes committed by Iran-backed Hamas, immediate action is needed to punish those who’ve bankrolled the atrocities. The Hamas International Financing Prevention Act would impose sanctions on any entity that offers financial or material support to Hamas,” Mast’s office noted.
“We’ve been bombarded by images of the absolute worst of humanity for the last two weeks, but support for Hamas still looms large,” said Mast. “There should be no ambiguity here: Hamas is responsible for absolutely every innocent life lost in this war. Full stop. And any supporter of Hamas is complicit. Now it’s time for the United States to match our words with action by sanctioning anyone who’s enabled radical Islamic terrorists that chant destruction of Israel.”
“Just days ago, the world watched Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invade Israel and brutally kidnap, torture, rape, burn alive, and murder innocent babies, children, women, men, and the elderly, including Americans. This unprovoked war has wreaked havoc upon thousands of lives and underscored why I will always stand with Israel and support our partner’s right to defend herself from those who seek her destruction. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that we isolate and punish radical terrorist groups like Hamas and PIJ by cutting off their financial resources at the moment our most historic ally in the Middle East needs it most,” said U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ, who is the main co-sponsor.
More than 20 other co-sponsors have lined up behind the bill. which Mast and Gottheimer, have been pushing in recent years. U.S. Reps. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., are among the co-sponsors.
The bill still needs to clear the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a similar bill in the U.S. Senate back in May with almost a dozen co-sponsors including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
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