Urgent: Italian Authorities Arrest 9 Alleged Hamas Fundraisers

UPDATE: Italian authorities have just arrested nine individuals accused of raising over $8.2 million to fund Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. The arrests, executed by the State Police and the Guardia di Finanza, occurred in the early hours of December 27, 2023, following a significant investigation that began after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli civilians.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced the operation on social media, describing it as a major step in combating terrorism financing. “Despite the necessary presumption of innocence, the veil has been torn away on behaviors that, under the guise of supporting the Palestinian population, concealed actual support for organizations with terrorist aims,” Piantedosi stated.

The investigation revealed that these suspects operated a fraudulent fundraising scheme based in Genoa, with connections in Milan. They allegedly collected donations intended for the civilian population of Gaza, but it was uncovered that approximately 71% of those funds were redirected to finance Hamas’ military initiatives and to support families of suicide bombers, according to police sources.

Central to this investigation is Mohammad Hannoun, the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, who has denied allegations of financing Hamas. The suspects utilized three charities to launder the funds, obscuring their true destination from authorities.

This urgent operation highlights the Italian government’s commitment to addressing the threat posed by terrorist financing. Authorities remain vigilant, reinforcing that safeguarding national security is their utmost priority.

As this situation develops, further updates on potential legal actions against the accused are expected. The international community is watching closely as concerns regarding terrorism financing continue to escalate.

Stay tuned for real-time updates on this breaking story as it unfolds.