Italian prosecutors announced on Saturday (December 27) that the Italian police have arrested nine individuals. They are suspected of raising millions of euros for Hamas through so-called “charitable organizations” within Italy.
The operation was carried out in coordination with anti-Mafia and anti-terrorism departments. Prosecutors in the northern Italian city of Genoa stated in a press release that the suspects are accused of belonging to and financing the Palestinian armed group Hamas.
The arrested individuals are suspected of transferring around 7 million euros (8.24 million dollars) raised under the guise of humanitarian aid over the past two years to entities associated with Hamas.
Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the European Union.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed gratitude for the authorities carrying out an “extremely complex and important operation,” which exposed Hamas’s funding through “so-called charitable organizations.”
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated on the social media platform X that the operation has “unveiled the façade of certain actions and activities that purportedly serve the interests of the Palestinian people, but in reality, camouflage support for and participation in terrorist organizations.”
Among those arrested is Mohammad Hannoun, the chairman of the Italian Palestinian Association, who is described as the “head of Hamas organization’s Italian branch.”
Italian police revealed a “complex” fundraising system headquarters in Genoa with branches in Milan.
According to authorities, funds originally intended to aid civilians in Gaza were diverted to Hamas’s coffers, with over 71% of the money used to support its military wing and provide assistance to the families of suicide bombers or individuals arrested on terrorism charges, as stated in the police statement.
Following the discovery of suspicious financial transactions, Italian authorities collaborated with Dutch authorities and other EU countries, coordinated by the EU judicial agency Eurojust.
Italian prosecutors coordinating with other EU countries mentioned that these illicit funds were transferred through a “triangular operation” via bank transfers or external organizations to associations in Gaza, which were declared illegal by Israel due to their ties with Hamas.