A clandestine network, masked by charitable intentions, has been shattered in Italy. Nine individuals connected to three organizations now face arrest, accused of a shocking deception: raising millions under the guise of humanitarian aid, only to funnel the funds to Hamas.
Investigators allege approximately 7 million euros – equivalent to $8.2 million – was systematically diverted. This money wasn’t destined for hospitals or schools, but for “associations based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, or Israel” directly linked to the terrorist organization, according to a statement from anti-terrorism prosecutors.
The charities publicly presented themselves as dedicated to the well-being of Palestinians. However, a disturbing 71% of the collected donations were allegedly earmarked for the direct financial support of Hamas or groups operating as its affiliates, a revelation uncovered by police investigations.
The alleged scheme extended beyond simply funding operations. Authorities claim a portion of the illicit funds was even directed towards the families of individuals involved in terrorist attacks, deepening the gravity of the accusations.
Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, is among those arrested. Prosecutors have identified him as the alleged leader of Hamas’s operational cell within Italy, a pivotal figure in the network’s activities.
The flow of money wasn’t direct, but meticulously obscured. “Triangulation operations” – complex transfers through multiple banks and international organizations – were employed to channel funds to associations in Gaza already outlawed by Israel due to their connections with Hamas.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Paintedosi hailed the operation as a crucial success, stating it exposed a calculated scheme. The arrests, he emphasized, “lifted the veil on behavior and activities which, pretending to be initiatives in favor of the Palestinian population, concealed support for and participation in terrorist organizations.”
Hamas, which has maintained control of the Gaza Strip since 2006, is widely recognized as a terrorist organization by numerous nations and international bodies. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and the European Union are among those who have formally designated the group as such.
This investigation underscores the complex challenges of tracking and disrupting the financial networks that support terrorism, even when they operate under the veneer of legitimate charitable work. The case serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and scrutiny in the realm of international aid.
