Italy Cracks Down on Hamas
Italian Police Arrest Nine in Shocking Probe Over €8 Million Hamas Fundraising Network
Italian authorities arrested nine suspects linked to a sophisticated €8 million Hamas fundraising network, uncovering charities allegedly diverting donations to finance terrorism and supporting the terror group’s operations in Gaza and beyond.
Italian police have arrested nine individuals suspected of operating a sophisticated fundraising network that allegedly funneled over €7 million ($8.2 million) to Hamas.
The operation, revealed on Saturday, involved charities posing as humanitarian aid groups for Palestinians but accused of diverting the majority of donations to support Hamas's armed activities and terrorist operations.The arrests stem from a year-long investigation launched after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, coordinated by Genoa's Anti-Mafia District Directorate with support from the State Police and Guardia di Finanza.
Authorities seized assets worth more than €8 million, including bank accounts, properties, and digital records.
The suspects, all remanded in custody, are accused of financing terrorism by sending funds to associations in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, and Israel that are owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas.
Key charities implicated include the Beneficial Association of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (ABSPP), based in Genoa, and a newer entity called "The Golden Dome," created to evade scrutiny.
Prosecutors allege that over 71% of donations, raised under the guise of aiding Palestinian civilians, were redirected to Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, including support for families of suicide bombers to ensure "logistical and ideological continuity."
Funds were transferred through complex "triangulation operations," involving international bank transfers and intermediary organizations abroad to bypass financial controls.
A prominent figure among the arrested is Mohammad Hannoun, described as the leader of Hamas's Italian cell and president of the Palestinian Association in Italy.
Evidence gathered through wiretaps, seized servers in Genoa, and intercepted communications revealed military training documents, glorifications of "martyrs," and photos of suspects in combat gear alongside Al-Qassam Brigades members.
Direct recipients of the funds reportedly included Osama Alisawi, a former Hamas government minister in Gaza.
The probe involved international cooperation with authorities in the Netherlands and Israel, focusing on monitoring cross-border financial flows and a Europe-wide network tied to Hamas.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the arrests as a blow to activities masquerading as support for Palestinians but covertly backing terrorism.
The case references the Rome Statute and ongoing International Criminal Court proceedings related to post-October 7 events, emphasizing Italy's commitment to combating terrorism financing.