Major Platforms Continue to Host Profiles of U.S.-Sanctioned Terror Front Leaders
One month after Treasury sanctioned leaders of Hamas and PFLP front groups, Jewish Onliner found profiles linked to them still publicly accessible across major platforms
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On May 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions targeting individuals and organizations affiliated with Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The designations targeted leadership of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA)—which OFAC designated as a Hamas front organization on January 21, 2026—as well as leaders of Samidoun, designated as a PFLP front group.
A review by Jewish Onliner identified public-facing accounts associated with several designated individuals and entities that appeared accessible as of June 18, 2026. Their continued visibility raises questions about how major platforms identify, restrict, and review accounts connected to OFAC-designated parties.
Accounts Linked to Sanctioned Figures Remain Accessible
Saif Abukishek, a Spanish-Swedish national and member of the PCPA’s General Secretariat, maintains an Instagram profile bearing a blue verification checkmark. Abukishek also operates a Facebook profile and an X account opened in September 2015 and based in Catalonia, Spain.
Hisham Abu Mahfuz, who OFAC identifies as the acting Secretary General and President of the PCPA based in Jordan, maintains two personal LinkedIn profiles, as well as a public Facebook account. LinkedIn is operated within Microsoft’s corporate structure, while Facebook is part of Meta’s family of applications.
Jaldia Abubakra Aueda, identified by OFAC as Samidoun’s coordinator in Madrid and instrumental in establishing a Samidoun partner organization in 2021, maintains a public Instagram account.
The Palestinian Scholars Association (PSA), designated by OFAC for having acted on behalf of Hamas, operates multiple active accounts: a YouTube channel, an X account bearing a blue checkmark, a WhatsApp contact associated with a Turkish phone number (+90 535 974 7464), and a public Facebook page. The organization also maintains a website hosted by Cloudflare.
Business Operations of Saif Abukishek
Spanish corporate records show that Cyber Neptune S.L. began operations in Barcelona on May 13, 2025. The company was initially registered for real-estate activities. On August 22, 2025, Saif Abukishek was appointed sole administrator, and the company’s corporate purpose was changed to maritime cargo and passenger transport. OFAC separately identified Abukishek as a member of the steering committee of the flotilla targeted in its May 19 action.
According to Abukishek’s Facebook, he also maintains employment as a customer service manager at Cooltra Mobility, a European electric scooter and bicycle fleet operator with tens of thousands of vehicles across Europe.
Platform Compliance Requirements Under Sanctions Law
An OFAC designation generally blocks all property and interests in property of a designated person or entity that are in the United States or within the possession or control of U.S. persons. Unless an exemption or OFAC authorization applies, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving those blocked persons or their property interests.
That framework can extend to services provided by U.S. persons, including services performed in the United States or by U.S. persons abroad. For major technology companies, services such as paid verification, monetization, advertising, promotional tools, cloud services, account-management products, and other business offerings may therefore create sanctions-compliance concerns when provided to an OFAC-designated individual or entity.