Global Hamas Fundraising Network Dismantled Amid Allegations of Gaza Aid Diversion

A sophisticated global network allegedly funneling humanitarian aid donations to Hamas has been dismantled through a series of international arrests. Prosecutors claim the operation, controlled by 45-year-old senior Hamas propaganda official Saleem Alzaq, raised approximately $2 million for the militant group, with $1.5 million reportedly received after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The crackdown has led to the arrest of founders of two French charities implicated in the scheme. Association Baraka, established by 35-year-old Algerian Faouzi Barika just days after the October 7 attack, is accused of acting as a conduit for Hamas fundraising. Following an operation by France's General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), the charity has been shut down. Despite US notices, the charity's website continued to feature a link to an international payment system for a period before its closure. PayPal has stated it was not processing payments for the organization or individuals involved.

Both Mr. Alzaq, Mr. Barika, and Association Baraka have been placed under sanctions by the US, designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). Mr. Alzaq faces up to 20 years in prison in the US if convicted of charges related to soliciting donations under the guise of Gaza aid. The indictment alleges that Mr. Alzaq and his associates exploited public sympathy for Gaza to fund Hamas, using coded language in communications with an undercover US law enforcement officer. Hamas was reportedly referred to as “the Green,” and donations were discussed using phrases like “buy bread” or “give it to the bakeries.”

In the US, three men have been arrested for allegedly contributing funds to Hamas through this network. Abdel Adhami, 35, and Omar Adhami, 33, from Louisiana, and Raed Yousef, 56, from Florida, are accused of donating a combined total of $155,000. They face charges including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, with potential 20-year prison sentences if convicted.

US authorities indicate that Mr. Alzaq's alleged activities align with a pattern of Hamas benefiting from organizations posing as charities. In France, 39-year-old Amel Oualid was also arrested by the DGSI and sanctioned under the SDGT designation for her alleged role in raising money for Hamas through her charity, Ensemble C Mieux. Both Mr. Barika and Ms. Oualid are accused of transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency to Mr. Alzaq.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated that the “investigations and arrests spanned multiple jurisdictions in the United States and across international borders,” emphasizing that disrupting this “global financing network” was crucial as “money is the lifeblood of terrorist organisations.” The US Department of Justice identifies Mr. Alzaq as a deputy battalion member in Hamas’s armed wing, the Al Qassam Brigades, and part of its media office, involved in documenting Hamas events and leaders.