UK Imposes Sanctions Targeting Hamas Financing

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. (Reuters)
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. (Reuters)
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UK Imposes Sanctions Targeting Hamas Financing

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. (Reuters)
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron attends the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2024. (Reuters)

Britain on Monday sanctioned individuals linked to Hamas, including financiers and leaders of the Palestinian militant group, saying the measures would help cut off its funding including from Iran.

The move was taken in coordination with the United States.

The British sanctions target Zuheir Shamlakh, a man known as Hamas's "main money changer", and a key figure involved in the group's shift towards cryptocurrencies who helped transfer large sums of money from Iran to Hamas ahead of the group's Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, Britain's foreign office said.

"These sanctions send a clear message to Hamas – the UK and our partners are committed to ensuring there is no hiding place for those financing terrorist activities," British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.

The sanctions also target a senior official of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group.



UK Detects Human Case of Bird Flu, Says Wider Risk Remains Low

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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UK Detects Human Case of Bird Flu, Says Wider Risk Remains Low

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of the US flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

British health authorities said on Monday they had detected a case of the H5N1 bird flu in a person in central England but added that the risk to the wider public remained "very low".

The person acquired the infection on a farm, where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds, the UK Health Security Agency said in a statement, Reuters reported.

It said the individual was currently well and that authorities were tracing all known contacts of the person to offer antiviral treatment.

"We have robust systems in place to detect cases early and take necessary action, as we know that spillover infections from birds to humans may occur," UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser Susan Hopkins said.

Bird-to-human transmissions of avian influenza are rare in Britain although it has occurred a small number of times.

British authorities have detected cases of bird flu in poultry farms in recent months and have taken steps to cull all infected animals.