The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has highlighted changes to Switzerland’s sanctions regime targeting persons and organisations that support Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research amended the annex to the relevant ordinance of 10 April 2024, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs updated the SESAM (SECO Sanctions Management) sanctions database; the revised ordinance enters into force on 18 February 2026 at 23:00. Financial intermediaries are required to implement the prohibitions under the ordinance, freeze the assets of sanctioned persons and report the affected business relationships to SECO. A report to SECO does not remove the duty to carry out additional clarifications under Article 6 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act where there are grounds for suspicion and, if these cannot be dispelled, to file a report without delay with the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland under Article 9.
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) 2026-02-18
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority flags Swiss update to sanctions targeting supporters of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad
FINMA announced updates to Switzerland's sanctions against entities supporting Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs amended the ordinance annex, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs updated the SESAM sanctions database, effective 18 February 2026. Financial intermediaries must implement prohibitions, freeze assets, and report to SECO, while fulfilling obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.