Trump Administration Lifts Sanctions On Three Spyware-Linked Executives

Source: Huff Post/Reuters

Jan 1, 2026, 11:08 AM EST


WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s administration has lifted sanctions on three executives tied to the spy software consortium Intellexa, according to a notice published to the U.S. Treasury’s website. The move partially reverses the imposition of sanctions last year by then-President Joe Biden’s administration on seven people tied to Intellexa.

The Treasury Department at the time described the consortium, launched by former Israeli intelligence official Tal Dilian, as “a complex international web of decentralized companies that built and commercialized a comprehensive suite of highly invasive spyware products.” A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the removal “was done as part of the normal administrative process in response to a petition request for reconsideration.” The official added that each of the individuals had “demonstrated measures to separate themselves from the Intellexa Consortium.” Intellexa representatives did not immediately respond to email messages requesting comment.

The notice said sanctions were lifted on Sara Hamou, whom the U.S. government accused of providing managerial services to Intellexa, Andrea Gambazzi, whose company was alleged by the U.S. government to have held the distribution rights to the Predator spyware, and Merom Harpaz, described by U.S. officials as a top executive in the consortium.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-lifts-sanctions-spyware-executives_n_6956983be4b0570458f0c271?origin=home-latest-news-unit