Italian authorities have arrested nine individuals and seized approximately €8 million in assets as part of an investigation into an alleged scheme to divert charitable donations to Hamas [[1]], [[2]], [[3]]. The investigation, which involved collaboration with Dutch security services and the EU’s Eurojust agency, centers on allegations that funds raised for Palestinian civilians were funneled to the militant group, designated a terrorist organization by the European Union. Authorities suspect a two-decade-long fundraising operation orchestrated through multiple charitable associations was used to illicitly transfer funds, with a surge in activity following the October 7th attacks on Israel.
Italian authorities have seized approximately 8 million euros in assets as part of an investigation into alleged funding of Hamas through charitable organizations.
Investigators suspect that around 7 million euros were transferred to the militant group via these charities. Three associations are currently under scrutiny for their alleged roles in collecting and transferring the funds.
The European Union designates Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Among those detained is the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, who authorities have identified as the head of Hamas’s network within the country.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, citing investigative sources, the individual is accused of running a fundraising system for over 20 years, ostensibly for humanitarian purposes. However, the majority of the collected funds were allegedly used to finance Hamas or organizations linked to it.
The association president is reportedly the key figure in transfers exceeding 7 million euros, many of which occurred after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths.
ANSA reports that a portion of the funds was allegedly intended to support the families of suicide bombers or prisoners convicted of terrorism-related offenses.
The investigation was launched following analysis of suspicious financial transactions, as well as telephone intercepts and monitoring of money flows.
Dutch security services and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, Eurojust, collaborated with Italian authorities during the probe. The investigation revealed a network across Europe allegedly collecting funds for Hamas activities under the guise of charitable work.
Italian authorities have uncovered a significant financial network allegedly used to funnel millions of euros to Hamas, a militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. The operation, dubbed “Domino,” highlights the ongoing international efforts to disrupt the financing of groups involved in conflict and terrorism.
On Saturday, Italian financial police announced the seizure of approximately 8 million euros in assets linked to the alleged scheme. Investigators believe around 7 million euros were illicitly transferred to Hamas through a series of charitable organizations.
At the center of the investigation is the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, identified by authorities as the leader of Hamas’s Italian network. According to reports from the Italian news agency ANSA, the individual is accused of orchestrating a fundraising operation spanning more than two decades. While presented as a humanitarian effort, the majority of the collected funds were allegedly diverted to support Hamas and its affiliates.
The investigation gained momentum following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, with a substantial portion of the alleged transfers occurring in the aftermath of the violence that claimed approximately 1,200 lives. Authorities allege that some of the funds were earmarked for the families of individuals involved in terrorist activities, including suicide bombers and convicted terrorists.
The probe involved extensive analysis of financial transactions, phone surveillance, and tracking of money flows. Collaboration with Dutch security services and Eurojust was crucial in uncovering the pan-European network allegedly involved in the fundraising operation. The development underscores the challenges faced by international law enforcement in combating the financial support of designated terrorist organizations.
