Funds from Italy to Hamas, 25 under investigation: among them also Hannoun’s family members

According to investigators, the Palestinian leader’s wife and two children knew the real destination of the money. Minister Piantedosi: “Money flows followed. The operation demonstrates that the investigative and intelligence apparatus is solid”. The Centre-Right: “Now what does the Left say about Hannoun?”. Pd, M5s and Avs: “Do not criminalize the pro-Pal square”. This is what one of the suspects said: “If they were to enter this PC, they would give us six years”

There are currently 25 people under investigation in the Genoa DDA investigation which led to the application of precautionary measures against the president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy, Mohammad Hannoun, and 8 other people accused of financing Hamas. Among those under investigation there are also Hannoun’s family members, his wife and two children, who according to Digos investigators and the financial police would have been aware of the real destination of the funds collected and who, at least in the case of the children, would have on some occasions maintained contact or transported the money.

Warranty interrogations on Tuesday

The warrant interrogations before the investigating judge Silvia Carpanini of the nine arrested – two are fugitives, one is said to be in Turkey and the other in Gaza – have not yet been scheduled, but will probably take place starting from Tuesday 30 December in the form of video link, with the exception of that of Hannoun, the only one to be detained in the Genoese prison of Marassi, which will be held in person. In the next few hours, Hannoun’s lawyers will go to prison to meet their client.

Piantedosi: “Our intelligence is solid”

“The flows of money were followed, and it was a paying choice. Terrorism is also fought in this way, by taking away resources and operational capabilities. Now new scenarios are opening up.” Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said this Afterthe anti-Hamas operation which led to the arrest, throughout Italy, of nine people accused of having financed terrorists with over 7 million euros through three charities. “It is a very important result. The attention is certainly high and this operation could reveal interesting scenarios”, added Piantedosi to The newspaper. The blitz “also demonstrates that our investigative and intelligence apparatus is solid, competent and highly professional – he said -. It was a long job”, in which “the coordination and collaboration between all the investigative components of the State proved to be successful. The information contribution of the intelligence agencies was not lacking”. Hannoun? “His position is being examined by the judiciary, it is not up to me to anticipate the conclusions, I am sure that the responsibilities will be ascertained one by one.”

Piantedosi: “Financial flows monitored”

The investigation, explained the minister, started “from the monitoring of financial flows, apparently legitimate donations that showed anomalies. From there, a complex network was built also thanks to information exchanges with the authorities of the European Union countries, including the Netherlands”. Piantedosi then underlined that “when national security is defended, there are not nor should there be party flags”. And on the alleged links between these Palestinian organizations involved in the investigations and the pro-PAL, the minister said: “These are assessments that the judiciary will make. Each position must be evaluated individually. The investigation serves precisely to distinguish legitimate solidarity from those who provide cover for criminal purposes.”

“If they were to break into this PC, they would give us six years”

“If they were to hack into this computer… if they gave Abu Rashad one year, they will give us six years.” Ra’ed Hussny Mousa Dawoud – known as Abu Falastine, considered one of Hannoun’s closest collaborators and investigated with him in the investigation – said this, according to what emerged from the investigations, in July 2024 in a conversation at the headquarters in Via Venini in Milan of the ASPP, the charity association for solidarity with the Palestinian people. He said this in conversation, among others, with Yaser El Saly, manager and employee with Falastine of the association’s Milan office. According to the accusations, Falastine’s membership in Hamas was confirmed by an episode that he has repeatedly recounted, namely a meeting about fifteen years ago in Gaza with the then head of the organization Ismail Haniyeh, who had recognized his valuable role as a collector of financing. Also according to the accusations, to circumvent the blocking of Aspp accounts, the “La cupola d’oro” association was created in Milan on 25 June 2023. And then, to further facilitate financing while avoiding the blocking of money, a further “La palma” association in Bergamo on 18 January 2025.
Falastine himself transported money to Türkiye and Egypt, in the first case – as per the customs declaration – with 170 thousand euros, in the second with 200 thousand euros.

Controversy between the majority and the opposition

While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni applauds the anti-terrorism blitz, the clash between the majority and the opposition heats up over the role of Mohammad Hannoun, leader of the Palestinians in Italy, now in prison. “What does the Left that defended him say?”, they urge from the Center-Right. “It’s good to fight terrorism, but don’t criminalize the pro-Pal square”, reply Pd, M5s and Avs. Israel rejoices: “Important step in the fight against Hamas”.

The Hannoun association: “We will not stop doing good”

“Even if our accounts remain closed, we will not stop doing good”, we read in the latest statement released on Christmas Day by the charitable Association of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in Italy (Abspp Odv), founded by the president of the Association of Palestinians of Italy Hannoun who, as mentioned, was arrested in the investigation and is considered the alleged leader of the Italian cell.

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