The United States Treasury Department added a Panama corporation and two Panama-flagged vessels to its sanctions list on May 19. The Office of Foreign Assets Control, known as OFAC, targeted the entities for their alleged support of Hamas. The action blocks their assets and prohibits Americans from doing business with them.
The newly sanctioned Panama company is Aquila Worldwide Marine Developments, Corp. It was incorporated on October 25, 2025. The firm lists its address on the 21st floor of Global Plaza on Calle 50 in Panama City. Two Panamanian nationals registered the company. One lives in Paraiso, San Miguelito. The other shares the same corporate address. Corporate officers include Sevim Dekak as president and Hanife Yildiz as treasurer, both residing in Istanbul, Turkey. Olga Anisimova serves as secretary, with an address in Russia. The resident agent is the Panama law firm Karnakis and Karnakis, specifically attorney Sofiano Karnakis Kosmas.
OFAC Targets Pro-Hamas Financial Networks
The Treasury Department stated that OFAC “is taking action against four individuals, associated with the pro-Hamas flotilla, organized by the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which is trying to access Gaza in support of Hamas.” [Translated from Spanish] Three of those individuals have connections to Panama. The sanctions target key actors operating within Muslim Brotherhood-aligned networks that support Hamas. The United States considers Hamas a terrorist organization with a diverse network of international partners. Washington says this network seeks to expand political influence, facilitate violent terrorist activities, and undermine international efforts for lasting peace in Gaza.
The new designations respond to OFAC taking measures against key actors who operate in Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks.
The Treasury Department took this action under anti-terrorism authority, specifically Executive Order 13224 as amended. The State Department previously designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The OFAC sanctions list now includes these Panama-linked entities. The Hamas terrorist designation by the United States dates back to October of last year.
Panama-Flagged Vessels Face Asset Freezes
The other two entities added to the OFAC list are vessels flying the Panama flag. The Bright Gold is an oil tanker built in 1999. Its International Maritime Organization identification number is IMO 9171503. The ship is linked to GS Chemical Transportation, Ltd., represented by the local firm Morgan and Morgan. The Midas is a crude oil tanker built in 2003 with IMO number 9266841. It connects to Ocean Marvel Shipping Company, Ltd. The Bright Gold previously operated under the name Inmortal Gold until January 2022. Morgan and Morgan notified the Panama Maritime Authority’s Merchant Marine Directorate of the name change.
The sanctions freeze any assets these entities hold within the United States. American citizens and companies cannot engage in transactions with them. The Treasury Department can also impose secondary sanctions on foreign persons who conduct business with the listed entities. The Panama corporate registry shows Aquila Worldwide Marine Developments was a newly created shell company. The Panama corporate registry records reveal the firm was established just seven months before the sanctions. The action signals Washington’s continued focus on disrupting financial networks that support Hamas operations in Gaza.