Italian anti-mafia and anti-terrorism prosecutors announced the arrest of nine individuals on Saturday, accusing them of funnelling millions in charitable donations to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Operation Uncovers Multi-Million Euro Diversion
The suspects are alleged to have diverted approximately 7 million euros (£6.1 million) to entities linked to Hamas over the past two years. The funds were raised under the guise of humanitarian aid for Palestinians. As part of the operation, police seized assets valued at over 8 million euros.
One of those detained was identified by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi as Mohammad Hannoun, the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy. Hannoun was photographed with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at a pro-Palestine rally in Rome last November. Thunberg has not been implicated in any alleged wrongdoing.
In a separate police statement, officers confirmed the seizure of 1.08 million euros in cash from the offices of a pro-Palestinian charity and from suspects' homes. Material supportive of Hamas was also confiscated.
International Cooperation Key to Investigation
The complex probe began after suspicious financial transactions were flagged through cooperation with Dutch authorities and other EU member states. The investigation was coordinated through the EU's judicial agency, Eurojust.
Israeli intelligence and anti-terrorism agencies played a significant role, providing 'information and evidence to Italian law enforcement authorities through established and agreed channels,' according to a Sunday statement from Israel's defence ministry.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that Israel would 'pursue every terrorist and anyone supporting them, even abroad,' adding that those who believed they could fund terrorism undetected were mistaken.
Political Fallout and Protests in Italy
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who leads one of Israel's staunchest European allies, praised authorities for a 'particularly complex and important operation' that exposed financing for Hamas through 'so-called charity organisations.'
Her government's firm support for Israel in the Gaza war has previously sparked large and repeated street protests across Italy. Following Saturday's arrests, pro-Palestinian activists marched in Milan, denouncing the police action as part of a campaign of 'repression and criminalisation.'
Groups including the Young Palestinians of Italy argued that Palestinians, like all peoples, have a legitimate right to resist and that labelling such resistance as terrorism was unjust.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 which killed around 1,200 people, has led to over 71,000 deaths in Gaza according to the enclave's health ministry.
