Italy detains nine in probe of charities accused of funding Hamas

Italian authorities arrested nine people on Dec. 27 in a coordinated operation targeting a fundraising network accused of siphoning millions of euros raised in Italy to groups tied to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. Prosecutors said the investigation, built over months of inquiries centered in Genoa, focused on charity structures that presented themselves as channels for humanitarian relief but allegedly redirected donations to entities “owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas.”

Investigators said the amount most consistently cited in court filings and prosecutor statements is roughly €7 million, about $8.2 million, although some outlets have reported slightly higher totals. The probe identified two associations linked by investigators to one of the suspects, named as Mohammad Hannoun, a Jordanian activist described by authorities as the head of the Italian network. Those associations are Associazione Benefic A Di Solidarieta Col Il Popolo Palestinese and La Cupola d Oro.

Police carried out searches and inspections in Genoa and other cities, including visible law enforcement activity at a charitable association in Milan on Dec. 27. Anti terrorism and anti mafia units led the law enforcement effort, supported by prosecutors who opened a preliminary investigation after suspicious transactions and financial activity were flagged and monitored. Authorities said they worked with counterparts in the Netherlands and Israel to trace cross border flows and map a Europe wide structure.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the arrests as “a blow” to activities that he said masquerade as support for Palestinians while covertly backing terrorism. Prosecutors have stressed that the case remains in an early stage, and those detained are accused in preliminary proceedings. The arrests do not constitute convictions and the judicial process will determine whether formal charges will be pursued and sustained.

The operation presents a delicate challenge for Italy and other European states balancing counterterrorism obligations and the protection of legitimate humanitarian assistance. Italian civil society groups and Muslim and Arab community leaders in Italy have for years mobilized to send aid to the occupied Palestinian territories, arguing that channels for assistance must remain open for civilians. Authorities in this case say the network misused charitable labels to mask diversion of funds, an allegation that if proven could prompt tighter scrutiny of nonprofit oversight and cross border remittances.

International partners will be watching how prosecutors in Genoa pursue financial evidence, asset tracing and legal remedies. European authorities have invested heavily since the Gaza war in mechanisms to detect financing of designated militant groups while protecting humanitarian corridors. The arrests may also prompt diplomatic exchanges with jurisdictions where the alleged recipient entities operated, and with donor communities in Italy disrupted by the sweep.

For now the case underscores persistent vulnerabilities in global charitable finance systems, and the risks posed when complex humanitarian needs intersect with political violence. The Genoa prosecutors plan further investigative steps and potential charging decisions in coming weeks, leaving open wider questions about accountability, regulatory reform, and the resilience of lawful aid channels for civilians in conflict zones.