Nine Arrested in Italy for Allegedly Funding Hamas with Millions
Italian police arrested nine individuals suspected of raising approximately €7 million for Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians. The arrests, announced [Date if available from source, otherwise omit], were the result of a joint initiative between Italy's counter-terror police and financial police, according to a police statement.
The suspects are "specifically accused of carrying out financing operations believed to have contributed to terrorist activities," police said. The investigation revealed a "complex fundraising system" used to funnel the money to the militant group over a period of more than two years, according to BBC World.
Italian authorities also seized more than €8 million in assets as part of the investigation. The probe was triggered by suspicious financial activity preceding the October 7th attack, BBC World reported.
The case highlights the challenges in detecting and preventing the misuse of charitable donations for terrorist financing, prompting increased scrutiny of international financial networks. The investigation is ongoing.
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