Rome: Italian police have arrested nine people and seized more than €8 million in assets in an investigation into alleged financing of Hamas through charitable associations, authorities said.
The arrests were carried out by national police and the Guardia di Finanza in an operation coordinated by Genoa’s District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate.
Investigators said the suspects raised at least €7.3 million for Hamas through three Italy-based associations operating in Genoa and Milan. The investigation began before the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Prosecutors allege that seven of those arrested were members of Hamas’ foreign operations wing, while two others provided external support.
Of the nine arrest warrants issued, seven were executed in Italy. Two suspects are believed to be in Turkey and Gaza, according to Genoa chief prosecutor Nicola Piacente.
Authorities identified Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy and founder of the Associazione Benefica di Solidarietà con il Popolo Palestinese (ABSPP), as the alleged leader of the network.
Prosecutors said more than 71 per cent of donations collected by ABSPP and related organisations were transferred to entities linked to or controlled by Hamas.
Court documents said the group avoided banking controls by creating new associations after several financial institutions closed accounts linked to Hannoun following alerts from Israeli and US authorities.
Investigators said funds were sent through foreign intermediaries to groups in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel that authorities have declared illegal due to Hamas ties, or directly to Hamas members.
Prosecutors added that some of the money was used to support families of people involved in suicide attacks or imprisoned for terrorism offences, which they said strengthened Hamas’ operational capacity.
The probe involved phone surveillance, financial tracking and cooperation with authorities in the Netherlands and other European countries.
Judge Silvia Carpanini said Hannoun posed an immediate flight risk, citing evidence he planned to move to Turkey. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the operation, while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said it exposed the misuse of humanitarian activities to fund terrorism.
Hannoun’s lawyer said the funds were raised for humanitarian purposes and disputed the prosecutors’ interpretation of the transactions.
