Italy Arrests Nine Over Millions Raised for Hamas Through Charities

In a sweeping operation that spanned multiple countries and involved anti-mafia and anti-terrorism units, Italian police have arrested nine individuals suspected of funneling millions to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. The arrests, announced on December 27, 2025, mark the culmination of a complex investigation that pierced the veil of charities operating in Italy, which allegedly masked militant financing as humanitarian aid.

According to statements from Italian prosecutors in Genoa, the suspects are accused of raising approximately €7 million (over $8 million) over the past two years. The funds, intended ostensibly for Palestinian civilians, were instead diverted to entities linked to Hamas, with more than 71% of the money reportedly channeled directly to the group. Authorities also seized assets worth more than €8 million in connection with the probe.

The investigation began when suspicious financial transactions were flagged by Italian authorities. These red flags led to the involvement of Dutch officials and other EU member states, coordinated through the EU’s judicial agency Eurojust. The cross-border cooperation helped uncover a web of ‘triangulation operations’—bank transfers and transactions routed through organizations abroad—which ultimately delivered funds to associations based in Gaza and elsewhere, many of which have been declared illegal by Israel due to their ties with Hamas.

Three charitable associations, which claimed to support Palestinian civilians, are at the heart of the case. Italian police allege these organizations served as fronts for Hamas funding, with much of the money benefiting ‘family members implicated in terrorist attacks.’ The operation, described as ‘particularly complex and important’ by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, was praised for exposing the use of so-called charity organizations to finance terrorist activities.

Among those arrested is Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy. Investigators identified Hannoun as the leader of the Italian cell of Hamas and a member of its foreign branch. In 2024, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) labeled Hannoun an Italy-based Hamas member, crediting him with sending over $4 million to Hamas over a decade. His charity, the Associazione Benefica di Solidarietà con il Popolo Palestinese (ABSPP), was described by OFAC as a sham, raising money under the guise of humanitarian aid while helping bankroll Hamas’s military wing.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi commented on social media that the operation ‘lifted the veil on behaviour and activities which, pretending to be initiatives in favour of the Palestinian population, concealed support for and participation in terrorist organisations.’ The suspects and the implicated associations have not publicly responded to the allegations.

This crackdown comes amid heightened tensions in Italy over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Prime Minister Meloni’s vocal support for Israel during its war with Hamas has triggered repeated street protests, reflecting a country divided over the issue. The backdrop to these events is the devastating toll of the conflict: more than 71,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the enclave’s health ministry, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, based on Israeli sources.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and further cooperation with international partners may reveal additional layers to the funding network. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the arrests.

As the dust settles from this high-profile operation, questions linger about the broader landscape of charitable giving and the vulnerabilities that allow militant groups to exploit humanitarian channels. How can legitimate aid reach those in need while preventing funds from fueling further violence? For now, Italian officials are emphasizing vigilance and international cooperation as key tools in combating terror financing.

Italy’s decisive action against alleged Hamas financing reveals the evolving tactics of militant fundraising, where humanitarian fronts mask the flow of millions to conflict zones. The operation underscores the need for robust oversight and international collaboration to protect both the integrity of charitable aid and the security of states. As authorities probe deeper, the challenge remains: balancing compassion with caution in an era where the lines between relief and risk are increasingly blurred.

Sources: Reuters, The Jerusalem Post, Firstpost, 1News