ROME, ITALY – March 27, 2026 – In a seismic development, Muhammad Hanun, a prominent Palestinian activist and architect based in Genoa, has been arrested in Italy on charges of terrorism financing. The Italian State Police and Italian Financial Police apprehended Hanun on Friday, March 27, 2026, alleging he orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to funnel over €7 million to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid. Authorities have simultaneously seized assets worth more than €8 million, dealing a significant blow to an alleged international fundraising network.
Hanun, 63, a Jordanian citizen residing in Italy for four decades, faces accusations of promoting activity for terrorist purposes and laundering funds intended for Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. Prosecutors allege that Hanun, identified by investigators as a senior Hamas operative and head of its Italian cell, utilized his Palestinian Association in Italy (ABSPP), which he founded in 1994, as a front for illicit financial transfers. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had previously designated Hanun as an “Italy-based Hamas member” in 2024 and 2025, crediting him with sending millions to Hamas over a decade.
The alleged scheme involved collecting donations through various associations and public fundraising initiatives, often relying heavily on cash transactions. These funds, ostensibly earmarked for humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, were then reportedly diverted, with investigators claiming more than 70% of the collected money reached Hamas or affiliated entities. Alarmingly, some funds were allegedly directed to families of individuals involved in suicide attacks or imprisoned for terrorism offenses, a practice prosecutors contend directly strengthened Hamas’s operational capacity by incentivizing further attacks.
The network allegedly routed funds through foreign-based associations, including some in Turkey, before reaching Hamas-linked entities in Gaza and other locations. To circumvent banking restrictions that followed initial account freezes, new entities such as “La Cupola d’Oro” in Milan (founded June 2023) and “La Palma” in Bergamo (founded January 2025) were allegedly established. The investigation, known as “Operation Domino,” was launched after an analysis of suspicious financial transaction reports, some predating the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, indicating a long-running and structured alleged strategy by Hamas to establish overseas cells for fundraising.
Who Is Muhammad Hanun?
Muhammad Hanun, born in Jordan in 1962, has been a prominent figure in Italian-Palestinian activism for decades. An architect by profession, he has been widely recognized for his political and social engagement in support of the Palestinian cause, organizing numerous public demonstrations and solidarity initiatives. While denying any direct links to Hamas, Hanun has consistently stated he is simply a Palestinian fighting for his people’s rights and a sympathizer of Hamas as a faction involved in that struggle. However, Italian investigators describe him as a key Hamas operative abroad, leading its Italian cell and belonging to its foreign branch. His charity, ABSPP, was also listed by OFAC as a “sham charity” used to bankroll Hamas’s military wing.
The extensive investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by Italy’s DIGOS counterterrorism police, the Guardia di Finanza (Financial Guard), Italy’s National Anti-Mafia and Counterterrorism Prosecutor’s Office, and the Genoa District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate (DDA). Italy’s foreign intelligence agency, AISE, also contributed. The probe utilized financial transaction analysis, wiretaps, and rigorous monitoring of money flows. International cooperation was pivotal, with support from Eurojust, the Netherlands, and crucial documentation and intelligence from Israeli authorities and the U.S.
“This was not sporadic activity but a structured strategy by Hamas to establish overseas cells for fundraising and support, exploiting the guise of humanitarian aid to fund terror.”
Following his arrest, Muhammad Hanun, along with eight other individuals, has been ordered imprisoned before trial, with an Italian investigating judge citing an “escape risk.” Hanun was interrogated in Genoa on December 31, 2025, where he denied direct or indirect financing of Hamas. International arrest warrants have also been issued for two additional suspects. Under Italian law, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Assets exceeding €8 million have been seized and frozen, including approximately €1,080,000 in cash discovered during searches across various Italian cities.
This case underscores critical red flags that readers should be aware of when donating to charitable causes, particularly those operating in conflict zones. Prior designations by international bodies like OFAC, suspicious transaction reports leading to account closures, and the subsequent creation of new entities to circumvent banking restrictions are all significant warning signs. Donors should exercise extreme vigilance, conduct thorough due diligence on charitable organizations, and verify their legitimacy and financial transparency to ensure their contributions genuinely reach those in need and are not inadvertently diverted to illicit activities. Always scrutinize public statements and affiliations of an organization’s leadership. The alleged diversion of over 70% of funds from humanitarian aid highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight of charitable organizations to prevent their exploitation by terrorist groups.
