Italian police arrested seven people on Saturday (27) accused of transferring around 7 million euros to the Palestinian group Hamas. The operation also issued international warrants against two other suspects who are outside the country.
The investigation indicates that three associations based in Italy, officially dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, functioned as fronts for the direct financing of the group.
According to the police, 71% of the funds raised by the entities were allocated to organizations based in Gaza Strip, in Palestinian territory or in Israel, with direct or indirect links to Hamas. Part of the money was allegedly sent to relatives of people involved in attacks.
Among those arrested is Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, according to Italian media outlets.
In a note, the interior Ministery It was reported that those involved collected donations under the guise of humanitarian actions, but diverted the funds to activities linked to Hamas.
Minister Matteo Piantedosi commented on the operation on social media. "The operation lifted the veil on behaviors and activities that, while pretending to be initiatives in favor of the Palestinian population, concealed support for and participation in terrorist organizations," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The operation takes place amid intensified investigations into funding channels for extremist groups on the European continent.
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