Holy Land Foundation Funded Hamas; Greg Abbott Designates CAIR as FTO
What happened
The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development was shut down by the federal government after it was found to have funded Hamas in violation of U.S. sanctions. Separately, Greg Abbott designated the Council on American–Islamic Relations as a foreign terrorist organization. Reports indicate that the Holy Land Foundation had previously reached a $780,000 OFAC settlement for transferring funds to Iraq in violation of U.S. sanctions between 2002 and 2003. The Council on American–Islamic Relations has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, as its board includes Tayeb Jukaku, the father-in-law of a leader of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.
Why it matters
The designation of organizations as foreign terrorist organizations severely restricts their ability to operate and receive funding. The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development's shutdown illustrates the direct economic consequences of violating U.S. sanctions, impacting its core business operations.
Who's involved
- HamasPalestinian Islamist political and military organization that received funds.
- Council on American–Islamic RelationsMuslim civil rights and advocacy group designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
- Greg AbbottGovernor of Texas who designated the Council on American–Islamic Relations as a foreign terrorist organization.
- Holy Land Foundation for Relief and DevelopmentDefunct US Islamic charity shut down for violating U.S. sanctions.
- Muslim BrotherhoodGlobal Islamic organization linked to leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Council on American–Islamic RelationsSpeculative
The FTO designation could severely restrict the Council on American–Islamic Relations' funding and operations.
- Muslim BrotherhoodSpeculative
The FTO designation could severely restrict the Muslim Brotherhood's funding and operations.
Keep exploring
The entities involved
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Hamas
Palestinian Islamist political and military organization
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Greg Abbott
Governor of Texas since 2015
Related events
- University researchers in Maryland examined CAIR's activities and scrutinized its ties to Hamas.
- Hamas challenges Australia's terrorist designation.
- Several individuals co-sponsored resolutions supporting Israel while Hamas conducted unprecedented airstrikes against Israel on October 18, 2023.
- A council in Côte Saint-Luc called for a federal review of funds supporting terrorism, specifically targeting Hamas.