Italian authorities have arrested nine people accused of secretly financing Hamas through charity organizations operating inside Italy, in a major counterterrorism operation led by anti-mafia and anti-terror units.
Prosecutors in Genoa said the suspects allegedly diverted nearly €7 million over the past two years to Hamas-linked entities, money raised under the cover of humanitarian aid. Assets worth more than €8 million were seized during the raids.
The investigation began after authorities flagged suspicious financial transactions and quickly expanded across borders, with cooperation from the Netherlands and other EU states under the coordination of Eurojust, the EU’s judicial agency. Prosecutors said the suspects are accused of “belonging to and having financed” Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the European Union.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the operation, calling it “complex and highly significant,” and said it exposed how “so-called charity organizations” were being used to funnel money to extremist groups.
The arrests come amid heightened political tensions in Italy, where Meloni’s strong support for Israel during the Gaza war has sparked repeated mass protests. The Israeli government did not immediately comment on the operation.
The case underscores growing European concern that militant groups are exploiting humanitarian fundraising networks to finance terrorism, even as the war in Gaza continues to polarize public opinion across the continent.
