Rhino: Agencies – The European Union announced on Friday the imposition of sanctions on six individuals and three companies accused of financing Hamas and Islamic Jihad, or “facilitating their violent acts”.

The sanctions target three companies described as “shell companies designed to facilitate the flow of funds” to Hamas, controlled by a Sudan-based businessman previously sanctioned by the EU, the European Council said in a statement.

“Ahmed Sharif Abdullah Odeh,” who is accused of managing Hamas’s investment activities abroad, was singled out, AFP quoted the EU as saying.