Italian Authorities Dismantle Alleged Hamas Funding Network, Arrest Seven

In a significant counter-terrorism operation, Italian police announced on Saturday the arrest of seven individuals accused of orchestrating a sophisticated financial network that funneled millions of euros to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. International arrest warrants have also been issued for two additional suspects believed to be outside the country.

According to a detailed police statement, the investigation uncovered a complex scheme in which three non-profit associations, publicly presented as charities providing humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, allegedly served as fronts for raising and directing funds to Hamas-linked entities.

The probe revealed that the group had financed approximately seven million euros (roughly $8 million) over an unspecified period.

“The official objective of the three associations was to collect donations for humanitarian purposes for the Palestinian people,” the police statement clarified. However, forensic financial analysis indicated that more than 71 percent of the collected funds were systematically diverted from their stated purpose. Instead, the money was allegedly earmarked for the direct financing of Hamas or entities controlled by or affiliated with the Islamist movement, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and other nations.

Authorities provided further disturbing details, alleging that a portion of the illicit finances was traced to “family members implicated in terrorist attacks,” though specific incidents were not named in the initial release.

Among those detained was Mohammad Hannoun, identified in Italian media reports as the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy (Associazione Palestinese in Italia). His arrest underscores the alleged penetration of the funding network within officially registered diaspora organizations.

The operation has drawn high-level political attention. Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, took to social media platform X to commend the police forces involved. “This important operation has 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,” Piantedosi stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to combating the financing of terrorism.

The investigation, conducted by specialized anti-mafia and counter-terrorism units, reportedly involved extensive surveillance, wiretaps, and international cooperation to trace the money trail. The funds were allegedly transferred to associations based in Gaza, the wider Palestinian territories, and Israel, which investigators assert are “owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas.”

This crackdown highlights ongoing concerns among European security agencies about the potential exploitation of charitable fundraising channels to support militant activities abroad.