Italy arrests nine over alleged financing of Hamas through charities

Edited By: Sekou Kagné

Italian prosecutors announced on Saturday the arrest of nine individuals working for three Italy-based charitable organizations, on suspicion of financing Hamas, in an operation coordinated by anti-mafia and counter-terrorism units.

According to a statement from prosecutors in Genoa, the suspects are accused of belonging to and financially supporting Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union.

Italian media reported that one of those detained is Mohammed Hannoun, head of the Association of Palestinians in Italy.

Police alleged that the suspects transferred around €7 million over the past two years to charities said to be linked to Hamas, adding that assets worth more than €8 million were seized during the operation.

Investigators said the three organizations were part of what they described as a “strategic project” by Hamas, involving a complex network of overseas cells designed to support the group’s objectives.

The investigation began after authorities detected suspicious financial transactions and was later expanded through cooperation with Dutch authorities and several other EU countries, under the coordination of Eurojust.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the security forces, calling the operation “highly complex and significant”, and said it exposed alleged funding channels for Hamas operating under the guise of charitable organizations.

Meloni’s strong support for Israel during the Gaza war has sparked repeated public protests across Italy. In October, she stated in a televised interview that she, along with Italy’s foreign and defense ministers, faced accusations of complicity in genocide in Gaza, following a complaint filed by a Palestinian human rights group at the International Criminal Court.

Italian authorities stressed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.