For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 22, 2003

Statement on Executive Order 13224
Statement by the President

At my direction, the Treasury Department has moved today to block and freeze the assets of six top HAMAS leaders and five non-governmental 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.

# # #