Millions raised for Hamas through Italian charities

Italian authorities have arrested nine people linked to three charities suspected of raising millions of euros in funds for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, counter-terrorism prosecutors said in a statement.

The suspects are accused of sending approximately seven million euros (US$12 million) to “associations owned, controlled or affiliated with Hamas, based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories or Israel,” the statement said on Saturday.

Stating that Mohammed Hannoun, president of the Palestine Association in Italy, was among those arrested, prosecutors described him as “the head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organization.”

The European Union added Hamas to its terrorist list.

According to Italian prosecutors who are cooperating with other EU countries in the investigation, the illicit funds were transferred through “triangulation operations” through bank transfers or entities abroad to Gaza-based associations declared illegal by Israel for their ties to Hamas.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi wrote in his letter to

No statement was made from the suspects or associations.

In January 2022, the European Council decided to extend existing restrictive measures against 12 individuals and three organizations supporting the financing of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.