Backgrounder: Canada imposes additional sanctions in response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel

Effective immediately, Canada is imposing additional sanctions against nine individuals and two entities pursuant to the Special Economic Measures (Hamas Terrorist Attacks) Regulations, in response to the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the threat that Hamas and its affiliates pose to regional security.

Canadian measures

The regulations impose a prohibition on dealings related to the listed individuals and entities, effectively freezing any assets they may have in Canada. Persons in Canada and Canadians outside the country are prohibited from dealing with the listed individuals and entities, and the listed individuals are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The specific prohibitions are set out in the regulations.

The names of the nine individuals added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:

• Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair (a Hamas financier)
• Muhammad Ahmad Abd Al-Dayim Nasrallah (a Hamas financier and operative)
• Ahmed M. M. Alaqad (a Hamas financier)
• Nasser Al Sheikh Ali (a Palestinian Islamic Jihad financier)
• Samir ‘Abd Al-Mu’in ‘Abd Hirzallah (a Hamas financier)
• Thair Abd Al Raziq Shukri Hirzallah (a Hamas financier)
• Muhammad Fallah Kamil Hirzallah (a Hamas financier)
• Na’im Kamil Raghib Hirzallah (a Hamas financier)
• Salah Kamil Raghib Hirzallah (a Hamas financier)

The names of the two entities added to the schedule of these regulations are the following:

• Herzallah Exchange and General Trading Company LLC (a Hamas-affiliated financial exchange company)
• Samir Herzallah and Brothers For Money Exchange and Remittances (a Hamas-affiliated financial exchange company)