Tokyo: The Japanese authorities are planning to freeze assets of nine leaders of Palestinian movement Hamas and its members managing financial affairs to hamper funding of the group, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Monday, citing governmental sources.
Apart from the assets, the Japanese government is also planning to freeze cryptocurrency funds and exchanges tied to the Gaza Strip, the news channel reported, adding that similar restrictions against Hamas had already been imposed by the United States.
The Japanese government is expected to approve the list of sanctions at the upcoming session on October 31.
The issue is in the final stage of discussion, NHK reported.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people in neighbouring Israeli communities.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel.
The blockade was later eased to allow trucks with humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The escalation of the conflict has resulted in thousands of people killed and injured on both sides.
