Italian police have arrested nine individuals on suspicion of raising approximately €7 million for Hamas over a period of more than two years, authorities confirmed.
According to a police statement, the funds were publicly presented as humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, but were instead channeled to the militant group Hamas through what investigators described as a “complex fundraising system.”
Millions in Assets Seized
In addition to the arrests, police seized more than €8 million in assets as part of the investigation. The suspects are specifically accused of conducting financial operations believed to have contributed to terrorist activities.
The arrests were carried out under a joint operation between Italy’s counterterrorism police and the financial police. The investigation was launched following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Fundraising Network Based in Genoa
Investigators uncovered a sophisticated fundraising network, headquartered in Genoa, with additional branches in Milan, according to reports cited by BBC and relayed by KosovaPress.
Police said that while donations were allegedly collected for Gaza’s civilian population, more than 71% of the funds were diverted to Hamas, where they were used to finance its military wing and support families of suicide bombers or individuals detained for terrorism-related offenses.
Key Figure Identified
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that the most prominent suspect among those arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation highlights the misuse of humanitarian narratives to conceal terrorist financing activities.
