US Charges Hamas Member and Associates in $1.7 Million Donation Scheme

U.S. authorities have filed charges against a man identified as a Hamas member in Gaza and three American citizens, accusing them of operating an international network that funneled over $1.7 million in donations to the terrorist organization. Since January 2020, the network allegedly solicited funds for humanitarian aid, including food and winter supplies for Gaza residents, while secretly diverting a portion to Hamas. Investigators estimate that at least $626,000 of the total donations originated from U.S. donors.

Saleem Alzaq, 45, who is believed to be in Gaza, is central to the case. U.S. officials describe him as a Hamas member involved with the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and its media apparatus in Shuja'iyya. Simultaneously, three individuals were arrested in the United States: brothers Abdel and Omar Adhami in Louisiana, and Raed Yousef in Florida. An additional three people connected to the alleged network were apprehended in France as part of a coordinated international effort.

Prosecutors allege that the organizers took deliberate steps to conceal the true destination of the funds, reportedly instructing donors to avoid explicit mentions of Hamas during money transfers. The individuals facing charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty.