Rome, December 29, 2025 – Italian anti-terrorism authorities have arrested nine individuals linked to three pro-Palestinian charitable organizations on suspicion of diverting millions of euros in donations intended for humanitarian aid to the militant group Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and several other countries.
The operation, coordinated by Genoa's District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate in collaboration with the State Police and Guardia di Finanza (financial police), resulted in the seizure of assets worth over €8 million, including €1.08 million in cash found in charity offices and suspects' homes, along with pro-Hamas propaganda material. Prosecutors allege that the suspects raised approximately €7 million ($8.2 million) over the past two years under the guise of supporting Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but diverted more than 71% of these funds to entities controlled by or affiliated with Hamas.
The funds were allegedly transferred through sophisticated "triangulation operations" involving bank transfers routed via organizations abroad to associations in Gaza, the West Bank, or Israel that Israeli authorities have declared illegal due to their direct ties to Hamas. Some transfers reportedly went directly to Hamas members or supported families of individuals involved in terrorist attacks or imprisoned for terrorism-related offenses, thereby bolstering the group's operational capabilities.
Among the arrested is Mohammad Hannoun, 63, president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy and founder of the Associazione Benefica di Solidarietà con il Popolo Palestinese (ABSPP), whom prosecutors describe as the "head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organization". Hannoun, a Palestinian architect from Ramallah long active in pro-Palestinian advocacy in Italy, has previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for alleged terrorist financing activities. The charities implicated include two iterations of ABSPP (established in 1994 and 2003) and La Cupola d'Oro, founded in Milan in December 2023.
The investigation, which intensified following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, involved international cooperation with Dutch authorities, other EU member states, and the EU judicial agency Eurojust. Israeli intelligence also provided information and evidence through established channels. Seven of the suspects are accused of membership in Hamas's foreign operations wing, while two provided external logistical support.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the operation as "very important and significant," stating on X that it "lifted the veil on behavior and activities which, pretending to be initiatives in favor of the Palestinian population, concealed support for and participation in terrorist organizations". Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "appreciation and satisfaction" for the "particularly complex and important operation" that exposed financing networks masquerading as humanitarian efforts.
The arrests have sparked reactions within Italy's pro-Palestinian community. Activists marched in Milan on Saturday to protest the police actions, denouncing them as part of a broader campaign of "repression and criminalization" against solidarity efforts for Palestinians. Groups like Young Palestinians of Italy and the Arab-Palestinian Democratic Union defended the right to resist occupation, arguing that labeling such support as terrorism is unjust.
This case underscores ongoing European efforts to disrupt terrorist financing networks amid the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict. Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, remains on the EU's terrorist list, with restrictive measures extended against related individuals and entities as recently as January 2025. The conflict, triggered by the October 7, 2023, attacks that killed around 1,200 people in Israel, has resulted in over 71,000 deaths in Gaza according to local health authorities.
As the suspects await formal charges—accused of belonging to and financing a terrorist organization—the investigation highlights the challenges of distinguishing legitimate humanitarian aid from illicit funding in conflict zones. Authorities emphasize the presumption of innocence while stressing the need to counter hidden support for designated terrorist groups.
The operation reflects Italy's alignment with broader Western policies on counter-terrorism, particularly under Meloni's government, which has been a vocal supporter of Israel. It also comes against a backdrop of large-scale pro-Palestinian protests in Italy throughout the two-year war.
Further developments are expected as seized materials are analyzed and international partners continue sharing intelligence. This probe may set precedents for similar actions across Europe targeting alleged dual-use charity networks.
