Seven million in funding to Hamas: 9 arrests in Genoa. There is also the president of the Palestinians in Italy

Nine people were arrested by the police and the Guardia di Finanza, accused of having financed Hamas to the tune of seven million euro through associations. The precautionary measures were issued as part of an investigation coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate. Precautionary measures were executed against nine suspects, all of whom were remanded in custody, and three associations.

Banconote e documenti rivenuti, anche con l’ausilio dei cash dogs, durante le perquisizioni e arresti effettuati da Polizia e Guardia di Finanza nei confronti di nove persone accusate di aver finanziato Hamas per sette milioni di euro attraverso associazioni, Genova, 27 dicembre 2025 ANSA

Among those arrested is also the president of the association of Palestinians in Italy Mohammad Hannoun, whom investigators describe as a 'member of the foreign branch of the terrorist organisation Hamas' and 'head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organisation'.

"I would like to express my appreciation and satisfaction for the operation, of particular complexity and importance, which has led to the arrests of nine people accused of having financed Hamas, through a number of self-styled charities, to the tune of over seven million euro". This was stated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The investigation started from the analysis of suspicious financial transactions and was developed through information exchanges with other Italian investigative offices and with authorities in the Netherlands and other EU countries. For the investigators, the 'financing of terrorist activities' allegedly took place through three charitable associations. In particular, those arrested are accused of having 'significantly contributed to the criminal activities of the terrorist organisation, for a total amount of about seven million euro', with 'triangulation operations' through bank transfers or in other ways through associations based abroad, in favour of associations based in Gaza "declared illegal by the State of Israel, because they belong to, are controlled by, or are in any way connected to Hamas" or "directly in favour of exponents of Hamas, in particular, to Osama Alisawi, former Minister of the de facto Hamas Government in Gaza, who in various circumstances solicited such financial support".

Un frame di un video sull'operazione che ha portato all'arresto di nove persone accusate di aver finanziato Hamas, 27 dicembre 2025. ANSA/Questura di Genova-US Polizia di Stato

it is a very important and significant operation that was completed this morning by the State Police and the Guardia di Finanza with the arrest of nine people, including the most notorious Mohammad Hannoun. Even with the rightful presumption of innocence that must always be recognised at this stage, the veil was torn on behaviour and activities that, behind the screen of initiatives in favour of the Palestinian population, concealed support and participation in organisations with real terrorist aims of an Islamist matrix. A danger to which our government is paying the utmost attention'. Thus Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.