Lawmakers call on Treasury to take tougher stance on Hamas in Qatar

A group of lawmakers on Monday called on Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to take a tougher stance on the terrorist group Hamas in Qatar.

In a letter addressed to Mnuchin, 19 members of Congress from both parties expressed concern that a joint statement earlier this year from Mnuchin and Qatari officials about cracking down on terrorist financiers did not address Hamas.

“As state sponsors of terror such as Iran renew their financial support for Hamas, it is critical that the United States isolate and counter Hamas by cutting the terrorist organization at its source,” the lawmakers wrote.

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Among the lawmakers who signed the letter were Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas).

Sent bipartisan letter with @RepJoshG to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin urging his department to adopt a comprehensive strategy for cracking down on Hamas. pic.twitter.com/PWTcemokmX

— Ron DeSantis (@RepDeSantis) November 20, 2017

“We must have clear and verifiable steps to crack down on financial support for all terrorist organizations, especially Hamas,” the lawmakers wrote.

Earlier this year, four Middle East nations imposed a blockade against Qatar over allegations of funding terrorism, as well as its relations with Iran.

President Trump previously called Qatar “a funder of terrorism, and at a very high level.”