Statement on the Designation of Hamas Leadership and European Funding Sources Under Executive Order 13224,
August 22, 2003

At my direction, the Treasury Department has moved today to block and freeze the assets of six top Hamas leaders and five nongovernmental organizations that I am advised provide financial support to Hamas. By claiming responsibility for the despicable act of terror on August 19, Hamas has reaffirmed that it is a terrorist organization committed to violence against Israelis and to undermining progress toward peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.

I call upon all nations supportive of peace in the Middle East to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and to take all appropriate actions to deny it support.