Italian Probe Suspects Aid Funds Diverted to Hamas
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Italian prosecutors suspect a network of associations of diverting over 7 million euros in Palestinian aid funds to Hamas. Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy, and five others face trial. The investigation revealed links to French organizations, including one whose assets were frozen by France and whose official met with a French deputy before the October 7 attacks. U.S. sanctions were previously placed on Hannoun and an association he founded for alleged Hamas financing.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Italian prosecutors suspect over 7 million euros in Palestinian aid funds were diverted to Hamas.
- Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy, is among six facing trial.
- Hannoun and an association he founded were previously sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged Hamas financing.
- The investigation uncovered links to French associations, one of which had its assets frozen.
- A French official met with an associate of a sanctioned group shortly before the October 7 attacks.
Italian prosecutors in Genoa are seeking to bring Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy, and five others to trial, suspecting them of diverting millions of euros in donations intended for Palestinians to finance the Hamas organization. Between 2001 and 2025, three associations allegedly collected over 18 million euros, with more than 7 million euros reportedly channeled to the Palestinian group. Hannoun was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in October 2024, along with the Association of Charity and Solidarity with the Palestinian People (ABSPP) he founded, for allegedly financing Hamas's armed wing. Washington stated that Hannoun had participated in Hamas delegations in the Middle East with Majed al-Zeer, identified as its representative in Germany, and Adel Doughman, responsible for its activities in Austria.
The investigation also revealed connections in France. In 2016, Hannoun and Mazen Kahel were elected to the board of the Conference of Palestinians in Europe. Kahel had served as treasurer for the Committee of Charity and Relief to Palestinians (CBSP), which the U.S. sanctioned in 2003 for supporting Hamas. This organization, renamed Soutien Humani'Terre in 2018, had its assets frozen by French authorities in June 2024, a measure renewed in June 2026. Another French association, Humani'Terre, also faced these sanctions. An official from Humani'Terre, Abu Amir Eleiwa, was met in Cairo by French LFI Deputy Thomas Portes two days before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. While these links highlight connections between European associations, they do not solely establish participation in the alleged financing activities under investigation in Italy.
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