Australia, the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Norway this week sanctioned Israeli nationals Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the countries said in a joint statement. The two individuals are involved in "advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements" in the territory, the nations said.
The EU this week proposed another round of sanctions against Russia, including lowering the global price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel. The bloc also wants to sanction more vessels transporting Russian oil, designate Chinese companies sending dual-use goods to Russia, and introduce more financial restrictions.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned various people and sham charities located abroad for being "prominent financial supporters" of the military and terrorist activities of Hamas. The people and charities help to fund the Hamas military wing "under the pretense of conducting humanitarian work," including aid work in Gaza, OFAC said.
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The Trump administration has no plans to ease existing sanctions on Russia while it seeks a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a State Department nominee told a Senate panel June 10.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is planning to soon loosen some export controls on Syria, a move that would align with the Treasury Department’s lifting of certain financial sanctions against the country last month (see 2505230073).
The Bureau of Industry and Security is drafting a new regulation that could create a 50%-ownership threshold rule for parties on the Entity List, a BIS official said this week.
Five House and Senate Democrats introduced a bill June 6 that would require the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Small Business Administration to work together to help small businesses comply with the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., announced June 5 that she has introduced a bill that would bar shipments of offensive weapons to Israel until Israel commits in writing to using the arms in accordance with U.S. and international law. Congress would have to pass a joint resolution approving those specific uses. Ramirez said the Block the Bombs Act is needed to reduce civilian casualties in the Gaza War. The bill, which has 21 co-sponsors, was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., reintroduced a bill June 6 that would give the U.K. the same licensing exemption for unclassified defense exports that Canada currently enjoys under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The Special Relationship Military Improvement Act, which Green previously introduced in the last Congress, was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.