A letter to the FATF: Stop the terrorism financing in Lebanon & Gaza

Today is the 402nd day of Israel's war on Gaza & Lebanon — Israel has killed at least 43,603 Palestinians and wounded over 102,929, with another 10,000 feared buried under debris. In Lebanon, Israel has killed over 3,189 people and wounded around 14000 people.

The world heard the voice of the The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) firmly setting Lebanon on the Grey list for not being committed in applying the anti money laundering regulations and the FATF recommendations. Undoubtedly, it is a just action for the benefit of Lebanon and the Lebanese. Meanwhile, has any known any action taken by the FATF against funding the terrorism by the G7 supporting the Israel's Genocides Crimes in Gaza & Lebanon?

FATF, the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, has the power to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in the areas where illegal activities of fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing cause harm to the societies. It establishes international standards for identifying and freezing assets linked to terrorist groups and holds countries accountable to prevent financial flows that may support terrorism.

Looking at the history of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), it has taken several impactful actions against terrorism financing on an international scale. Here are some key historical actions:

1.???? Creation of the 40+9 Recommendations (2001): In response to the September 11 attacks, the FATF expanded its scope to include the financing of terrorism alongside money laundering. It developed nine special recommendations focused on terrorist financing, which were later integrated with its 40 recommendations on anti-money laundering (AML). These became the foundation for global standards in combating terrorism financing (CFT).

2.???? The Grey and Black Lists: The FATF uses the "grey list" and "blacklist" to publicly designate countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) measures. Inclusion on these lists can lead to economic sanctions and severe restrictions on financial transactions with these countries. For example, Pakistan was grey-listed in 2018 due to concerns over terrorist financing; this action led to significant internal reforms aimed at tightening oversight.

3.???? Suspension of Russia's Membership (2023): In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the FATF took the unprecedented step of suspending Russia's membership. While this was a political decision, it highlighted the FATF’s readiness to respond to actions that disrupt international security and stability. The suspension limited Russia’s influence in FATF's policymaking and reinforced the organization’s commitment to countering threats to global peace.

4.???? Monitoring Non-Cooperative Jurisdictions: In cases like Iran and North Korea, the FATF has issued public advisories, urging members to apply "counter-measures" to protect the global financial system from risks associated with these jurisdictions. This has effectively pressured banks and financial institutions globally to avoid transactions with high-risk entities, thus hindering the flow of funds to terrorist organizations.

And now after the incompetence of the Security Council and the International Court of Justice to stop the Israel's genocides, isn't the turn of the FATF to do its duties in stopping the G7 funds to Israel. Brown University released a report detailing America’s monetary commitment to Israel since October 7, 2023, which concludes that The United States has funded Israel at least $20 billion on military aid.

According to BBC report and SIPRI reports, the G7 has aided Israel significantly by military supports.

Germany sold Israel €326.5 million worth of arms in 2023, a tenfold increase compared to the previous year. Germany continued to double its arms sales to Israel, especially after October 7.

In the first weeks of the attacks on the Gaza Strip, the German government approved 185 additional applications from Israel for arms export licenses to Tel Aviv.

According to the German government, 308 separate licenses for the export of military equipment to Israel were approved in 2023, with a total value of around €327 million.

This represents a tenfold increase compared to 2022, when the total value of the approved licenses was €32.3 million.

According to data from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Britain has been selling military equipment to Israel since 1967.

The volume of trade in military equipment and weapons from Britain to Israel in the last ten years amounted to ￡495 million.

Britain has granted 1,401 licenses to companies selling arms to Israel in the past ten years.

Between October 7, 2023 and May 2024, Britain granted a total of 108 licenses to export arms to Israel.

Italy, one of Israel’s largest suppliers in Europe, sold small quantities of arms to Israel in the last quarter of 2023.

Italy sold arms to Israel despite “government assurances that arms sales are prohibited under laws prohibiting exports to countries that violate human rights.”

France has sent Israel parts used in defense equipment, including those used in the Iron Dome defense system.

NGOs have sued the French state to stop French arms sales to Israel.

Hungary signed an agreement with Israeli and German companies in August 2023 to produce drones in the Hungarian city of Zalaegerszeg.

In late October, Sweden signed a 10-year deal worth about $170 million with Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, which has been implicated in the attacks on Gaza.

Last but not least, shouldn't selling and buying bombs as well as different types of the military aids that are classified under the use of terrorism be banned by the FATF? Shouldn't the FATF set these countries on the BLACK LIST?!

We would like to hear from FATF " Why Iran and Lebanon are greylisted and blacklisted, but the G7 who are funding and selling bombs supporting the genocide of Israel aren't blacklisted?! is the death number not enough yet?!"

Natalie Rita Sabbagh

CACM, AACI

CFE, ACFE