Italian authorities arrest 9 for allegedly funding Hamas by charities | EUROtoday

Italian authorities arrested 9 individuals linked to a few charitable organizations on suspicion of elevating thousands and thousands of euros in funds for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, anti-terrorism prosecutors stated in a press release Saturday.

The suspects are accused of sending about 7 million euros ($8.2 million) to “associations based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, or Israel, owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas,” the assertion stated.

Among these arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, prosecutors stated, describing him because the “head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organization.”

The European Union has Hamas listed on its terror checklist.

According to Italian prosecutors, who collaborated with different EU nations within the probe, the unlawful funds have been delivered by “triangulation operations” through financial institution transfers or by organizations primarily based overseas to associations primarily based in Gaza, which have been declared unlawful by Israel for his or her ties to Hamas.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi wrote on X that the operation “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.”

There was no quick remark from the suspects or the associations.

In January 202, the European Council determined to increase current restrictive measures in opposition to 12 people and three entities that help the financing of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.