Italian authorities have arrested nine people suspected of channeling millions of euros to Hamas through charities operating in Italy, prosecutors said, in a wide ranging counterterrorism investigation coordinated with European partners.
Prosecutors in the northern city of Genoa said the arrests followed an operation led by anti mafia and anti terrorism units that uncovered an alleged financing network tied to Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the European Union. Investigators said the suspects are accused of belonging to and financially supporting the group through funds raised under the guise of humanitarian aid.
According to prosecutors, roughly seven million euros were collected over the past two years and diverted to entities linked to Hamas. Authorities said they seized assets worth more than eight million euros as part of the operation.
Italian police said in a separate statement on Sunday that officers confiscated more than one million euros in cash during searches of a pro Palestinian charity’s offices and the private homes of suspects. Police also reported finding materials praising Hamas during the raids.
The investigation began after authorities flagged unusual financial transactions, prosecutors said. It later expanded through cooperation with the Netherlands and other European Union member states, with coordination provided by the EU judicial agency Eurojust.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly thanked investigators, describing the case as a complex and significant operation that exposed the misuse of so called charitable organizations to fund Hamas.
Israel’s ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, also praised the arrests. Writing on X, he said he appreciated the Italian government and law enforcement for their efforts against what he called the infiltration of radical Islamist elements promoting terrorism.
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The case comes amid heightened political tensions in Italy linked to the war in Gaza. Meloni’s strong backing of Israel has prompted repeated street protests across the country in recent months.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza followed a Hamas led attack on southern Israel on October seven twenty twenty three that killed about twelve hundred people, according to Israeli figures. Gaza’s health ministry says more than seventy one thousand people have been killed since Israel launched its offensive.
Italian prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing and additional suspects or financial links could still emerge as authorities analyze seized material and financial records.