Italy detains nine over alleged diversion of Gaza aid funds to Hamas – JURIST

Italian authorities on Saturday arrested nine individuals on suspicion of raising more than €7 million for Hamas by misrepresenting the funds as humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. The arrests follow a counter-terrorism and financial crimes investigation jointly conducted by Italy’s anti-terror police and the Guardia di Finanza, launched shortly after the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

In a statement, police reported uncovering a “complex fundraising system” headquartered in Genoa with operational links in Milan. The funds were allegedly collected through three pro-Palestinian associations that publicly sought donations for medical and social support for civilians in Gaza. Investigators say, however, that financial tracing revealed that over 71 percent of the collected funds were diverted to entities linked to Hamas. They added that some of the funds went to the militant group’s military wing and families of individuals involved in suicide bombings or imprisoned for terrorism-related offenses.

Authorities also seized more than €8 million in assets and issued international arrest warrants for two additional suspects currently outside Italy.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi noted the scale of the operation in a post on X. He stated that the investigation lifted the veil on activities which, under the guise of humanitarian initiatives, concealed support for terrorist organizations. He also stressed the importance of recognizing the constitutional presumption of innocence at this stage.

The case may raise wider questions regarding the oversight of humanitarian fundraising channels in Europe amid the ongoing scrutiny of terrorism-financing risks since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. However, the proceedings are ongoing, and formal charges have yet to be adjudicated in court.