Police have moved against nine individuals suspected of raising approximately €7m for Hamas in the past two years—in the aftermath of the October 7th pogrom, the worst single day of violence against Jews since the Holocaust.
A further €8m in assets was seized. While unearthing a complex web of financial transactions, police described the suspects as
specifically accused of carrying out financing operations believed to have contributed to terrorist activities.
Many donors appear to have been under the impression that the funds were destined for Palestinian civilians, whereas an estimated 71% was diverted to the armed wing of Hamas.
Investigators from Italian police counter-terror and financial units were thanked by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who profiled alleged ringleader Mohammad Hannoun, the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy. (Hannoun—who admits to supporting Hamas—denies the allegations of providing the terror group with monetary support.)
