Israel Italy takes action against alleged Hamas network
Security authorities in Italy have arrested nine suspected supporters of the Islamist group Hamas and confiscated assets worth millions. Assets totaling eight million euros were seized during the "Domino" operation, the financial police announced and also referred to the investigating public prosecutor's office in Genoa.
27.12.2025, 16:20
SDA
The suspects are said to have supported Hamas with seven million euros via various alleged charitable organizations. Three associations that are alleged to have been significantly involved in the fundraising and transfer system are also under investigation.
President of the Palestinian association arrested
Among those arrested in the police and financial police operation coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior is the president of the Palestinian Association in Italy. The investigators described him as the head of the Italian cell of Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU.
The Ansa news agency reported, citing the investigators, that for more than twenty years he is said to have headed a system for collecting funds that were formally intended for humanitarian purposes. In reality, most of the money was used to finance Hamas or organizations associated with it. He is said to be primarily responsible for transfers amounting to more than seven million euros, especially after October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas terrorist attack with more than a thousand Israeli victims.
International cooperation
According to Ansa, some of the money was intended to support the families of suicide bombers or prisoners convicted of terrorism.
The investigations were initiated on the basis of an analysis of reports of suspicious financial transactions, including wiretaps and the monitoring of money flows. There was intensive international cooperation in the investigations, including with the Netherlands and the European judicial authority Eurojust.
The investigations also revealed the existence of a structured European network for raising money, which also included the Italian branch. The strategy was always the same: to support the organization financially through formal charitable activities.
