Russian Authorities Investigate Missing Millions in Gaza Aid Funds

Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the suspected large-scale disappearance of donation funds intended for humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip. According to Russian media reports, the center of the affair involves an online organization that collected over 10 million rubles monthly. Investigators suspect a significant portion of these funds never reached their intended destination.

Some individuals implicated in the alleged embezzlement, as reported by Russian media, are Palestinian refugees who have obtained Russian citizenship. Among them is a person who identified himself as an aide to a Hamas official, Iyad Issa Abu Zaher, who in turn claimed to be an assistant to Mousa Abu Marzook, deputy head of Hamas's political bureau. In December 2025, the antisemitic Russian charity "Rousar" reported transferring funds designated for Gazans to Abu Zaher, who stated the money was used to purchase blankets for children.

In addition to Abu Zaher, other individuals are under scrutiny, including a 29-year-old woman who managed the online fundraising. The circumstances under which some suspects acquired Russian citizenship are also being examined. Despite the severity of the allegations and the scale of the affair, the Russian Investigative Committee has not yet officially released the names of those involved or further details about the investigation on its website.