Italy cracks down on alleged Hamas funding network
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- Arrests: Nine arrested, two sought internationally for allegedly funneling €7M to Hamas via fake charities.
Italian authorities announced on Saturday a major security operation that led to the arrest of nine individuals suspected of raising and transferring millions of euros to support the Palestinian group Hamas.
Suspects Arrested and International Warrants Issued
Italian police, working with anti‑terrorism prosecutors, detained nine people linked to three charitable organizations that allegedly served as fronts for funneling funds to Hamas. Two additional suspects are being pursued via international arrest warrants as part of the same investigation.
How the Network Operated
Authorities say the three groups claimed to collect donations for “humanitarian aid” for Palestinians, but a significant portion of the funds was instead moved to associations in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, and 'Israel' with alleged links to Hamas.
- Around €7 million (about $8.2 million) is believed to have been diverted.
- Police estimate that more than 71% of the donations did not reach civilian relief but were directed to entities controlled by or tied to Hamas.
- Some money is reported to have gone to families of individuals involved in "terrorist attacks".
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union, and several EU sanctions target financial networks linked to it.
