Italy Nabs Mohammed Hannoun, Arrests Eight More in Major Hamas Financing Bust
A huge Italian counterterrorism operation on December 27, 2025, resulted in the arrest of Mohammed Hannoun and eight others who were suspected of laundering millions of euros to Hamas via false humanitarian charities. The operation that was touted as one of the most critical operations against terror financing in the past several years, found an alleged network wherein the trust of people in charitable organisations was used to finance extremist activities. Investigators confiscated about 8 million euros, raising concerns about how the aid structures are abused by militant groups in Europe and larger problems for regional security.
Arrests, Seizures & Funded Alleged Connections
Italian law enforcement confirmed that Mohammed Hannoun, a Palestinian-born activist in Italy, was arrested along with eight others after a years-long investigation into terror financing. Authorities accuse the group of using money raised in the name of humanitarian aid to directly fund Hamas, which is labeled a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and several other countries.
According to official sources, investigators seized almost 8 million euros in coordinated raids in several places. These funds were allegedly gathered by so-called Palestinian charities operating in Italy, which presented themselves as aid organizations in support of civilians but allegedly served as financial fronts. Prosecutors said that donations that were supposed to be used for humanitarian relief purposes were instead funneled to Hamas to support its operational and logistical activities.
Officials emphasized that the investigation was based on verified intelligence and financial tracking, so nothing but accurate and official sources informed the arrests. The case had revived debate throughout Europe over the weaknesses of charitable sectors when it comes to being abused by extremist networks and the need to implement stronger oversight mechanisms.
Mohammed Hannoun’s Alleged Links with Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood
Central to the case is Mohammed Hannoun, who investigators claim was a key financial man for Hamas in Italy. Hannoun has in the past been sanctioned by the United States for allegedly using charities as a cover to transfer money to entities affiliated with Hamas. Italian authorities believe his role fits into a larger pattern of Hamas infiltration across Europe, where financial support networks operate quietly under valid organizational structures.
The investigation also points to Hannoun’s reported links with the Muslim Brotherhood via such groups as the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII). Prosecutors accuse these connections of helping create an environment in which funds could be raised, transferred, and concealed. While UCOII has made a public denial of involvement in illegal activities, according to investigators, there are overlapping networks and common personnel in UCOII that gave them support for Hamas-aligned causes.
Security analysts say the case highlights the complex web of links between the financing of extremism, ideological connections, and charity organisations in Europe. The arrests have spawned new calls for policy reforms, including stronger laws to ensure financial transparency, better monitoring of non-profits, and closer cooperation between European and international security agencies.
Italian officials insisted that the operation is ongoing and developments could take place. The case is being closely watched across Europe as governments reassess how to prevent the same sort of exploitation of humanitarian systems from being extended and legitimate efforts to provide aid being undermined.
