The investigation by the National Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office reconstructs a fundraising network disguised as aid to the Palestinian population. Nine arrests, including Mohammad Hannoun, indicated as the leader of the Italian Hamas cell, for money flows destined for the group responsible for the attack on 7 October 2023.
At least seven million euros collected in Italy through associations formally engaged in humanitarian activities in favor of the Palestinian population would have been in reality diverted to Hamasthe terrorist organization responsible for the attack on the October 7, 2023 in Israel. This is the conclusion of the investigation coordinated by National anti-mafia and anti-terrorism prosecutor’s officeoperationally conducted by Digos of Genoa and from Financial Policewhich in the last few hours led to the arrest of nine peoplesome of which are believed to belong to the foreign sector of the Islamist movement. According to the reconstruction of the investigators, the system would have leveraged three charities presented as solidarity structures active in supporting the civilian population of Gaza, but in reality used as financial hubs to channel resources towards Hamas and towards a network of organizations and subjects connected to it. The sums collected, again according to the accusation, would have been subtracted from the declared purposes and redirected, to a largely prevalent extent, to support the political and operational apparatus of the terrorist organisation. At the center of the investigation is Mohammad Mahmoud Ahmad Hannounreferred to as top exponent of the Italian Hamas cell and member of the so-called foreign section of the organization. Hannoun he is also a member of the board of directors of the company European Palestinians Conference and, according to the documents, he played a decisive role in the management and control of various associations, including theABSPPthe Golden Dome and the Palm. Entities which, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, were created or reorganized precisely for this purpose circumvent the blocks and controls of the international financial system and allow fundraising activities to continue.
Investigators dispute a Hannoun (already sanctioned by United States), to have intended over 71% of the resources collected – publicly presented as humanitarian aid – to the direct financing of Hamas or associations linked to the organization. The total volume of funds believed to have been illicitly channeled would amount to 7,288,248.15 euroscollected since 2001 and with a significant intensification in more recent years, in particular after October 7, 2023when the collection of money would have increased by taking advantage of the humanitarian emergency and international attention on the conflict. Next to Hannoun, among those arrested are Ra’Ed Hussny Mousa Dawoudconsidered to be the contact person for the Italian cell together with the main suspect and manager of the Milan branch of the ABSPP; Raed Al Salahhatmember of the foreign section of Hamas and, since May 2023, member of the summit of the European Palestinians Conference; Yaser Elasaly And Riyad Abdelrahim Jaber Albustangiaccused of having actively promoted fundraising through meetings, events and propaganda initiatives. It also appears in the investigation Osama Alisawiformer Minister of Transport of the de facto Hamas government in Gaza, indicated as one of the final recipients of financial flows and as a subject who has repeatedly directly solicited financial support.
The disputed operations were allegedly carried out through bank transfers, financial triangulations and indirect transfersoften by passing the money through associations based abroad, and then channeling it to organizations active in Gaza, the Palestinian Territories or Israel, declared illegal by the Israeli authorities as they belong to, are controlled by or are in any case attributable to Hamas. The operation was intervened on Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosiwho defined the investigation as “of particular importance”, underlining how, while respecting the presumption of innocenceconduct emerged which «behind the screen of humanitarian solidarity concealed support for and participation in organizations with terrorist purposes of an Islamist nature». The minister also praised the work of Central management of the prevention police and the specialist units of the Guardia di Finanzahighlighting the ability of the Italian police forces to reconstruct financial networks and flows on an international scale.
