# Plain Language Summary: Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act

This bill is designed to cut off money and resources flowing to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad by punishing foreign individuals, companies, and governments that support these organizations. The President would have to identify anyone overseas who provides financial support, weapons, or material help to these groups, and then impose penalties on them. These penalties could include blocking them from doing business with the United States, freezing their assets in America, preventing them from getting loans from U.S. banks, or stopping exports of military equipment and technology to them.

The bill also targets foreign governments that support these terrorist organizations. If a country is found to be providing material support to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the U.S. would suspend aid to that country for a year, vote against loans to them from international banks, and ban exports of weapons and controlled technology. The bill includes some flexibility—the President can waive these penalties if they determine it's in the national security interest of the United States, though they must notify Congress before doing so. There are also narrow exceptions for humanitarian aid like medicine and food assistance.

In practical terms, this bill gives the U.S. government tools to financially isolate organizations and countries it designates as supporters of these terrorist groups. For most Americans, the direct impact would be limited, though it could affect international business dealings and trade relationships. The bill essentially extends existing terrorism-related sanctions laws to specifically target financing networks connected to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act

Mast, Brian J.

Hamas International Financing Prevention Act This bill imposes sanctions targeting Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and any affiliate or successor groups. The President must periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person (individual or entity) that knowingly provides significant support or services to or is involved in a significant transaction with a senior member or supporter of the targeted groups. The President must impose two or more sanctions on the named persons. Specifically,&nbsp;the person may be (1) denied credit and services from the Export-Import Bank, (2) barred from purchasing certain controlled defense articles, (3) denied exports of items on the U.S. Munitions List, (4) prevented from receiving exports of certain goods or technology controlled for national security reasons, (5) prohibited from receiving financing of more than $10 million from any U.S. financial institution, or (6) subject to property-blocking restrictions. The President must periodically report to Congress a list of foreign governments that have repeatedly provided material support for the targeted groups' terrorist activities. The President shall bar these governments from receiving for one year (1) U.S. assistance, or&nbsp;(2) exports of controlled munitions. The Department of the Treasury must instruct U.S. leadership of&nbsp;international financial institutions to oppose providing assistance to an identified government for one year. The bill provides for certain exceptions and waivers, such as for transactions that would serve U.S. national interests. The President must report to Congress and periodically provide briefings on other specified topics related to the targeted groups, such as where these groups secure financing and surveillance equipment.