Italy arrests nine over alleged Hamas funding through charities

Bangkok Post Group

Italian prosecutors say they have arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through charities based in Italy, in an operation coordinated with other EU countries. Israel said on Sunday (December 28), its intelligence and anti-terrorism agencies also contributed to the investigation. - REUTERS

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00:01Italian police said on Sunday they have seized nearly $1.3 million worth of cash after nine

00:07people were arrested on suspicion of funding the Palestinian militant group Hamas through

00:12charities based in Italy.

00:14Police released video of their operation ordered by prosecutors in the northern city of Genoa.

00:19They said they found cash and electronic devices in the offices of a pro-Palestinian charity

00:25and in the private homes of suspects, including inside a concealed compartment in a garage.

00:31In a statement on Saturday, prosecutors said those arrested are being accused of belonging

00:35to and having financed Hamas, designated by the European Union as a terrorist organization.

00:42Among the suspects is Mohamed Hanoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy.

00:48Investigators described him as the head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organization.

00:53In an interview in November, Hanoun denied being part of or linked to Hamas, but he

01:00said he supported the group, calling them a resistance movement working for the liberation

01:06of Palestinian territories.

01:08Hanoun also founded the Charitable Association for Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

01:13The site of his charity in Milan was seen on Sunday sealed off by authorities.

01:18The prosecutors said those arrested had allegedly diverted to Hamas-linked entities some $8 million.

01:26Italian authorities said they worked with other EU countries on the investigation through the

01:30EU judicial agency Eurojust.

01:33Israel said its spy and anti-terrorism agencies also helped give Italy information and evidence.

01:40Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney thanked the authorities for a particularly complex and

01:45important operation.

01:47Her right-wing government is one of Israel's strongest allies in Europe.

01:51Its support for Israel during its war in Gaza has triggered repeated protests across Italy.

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