Five charged in France over alleged Hamas funding via humanitarian groups; US files parallel case

Right · 1Five people have been charged in France on suspicion of sending funding via humanitarian groups to a third party seeking to collect money for Hamas, the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) said on Saturday 3 October. 1 Right · 1The PNAT told AFP the five were taken into custody on Tuesday by investigators from the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), which is leading the investigation. 1 Right · 1A judicial inquiry was opened on Friday into "financing a terrorist organization, in this case Hamas", which if proven would constitute a breach of trust as well as money laundering in connection with a terrorist group. 1

Right · 1Three of the five suspects were placed under judicial supervision on PNAT's recommendation. The office had requested pretrial detention for the two association presidents: the first was placed in pretrial detention pending a postponed adversarial hearing he requested, and the second was placed under judicial supervision. 1 Right · 1The first president's lawyer, Lucie Simon, told AFP that her client took part in fundraising "for exclusively humanitarian purposes" and that his detention would be "scandalous". Lawyers for the other suspects declined to comment. 1 Right · 1The locations of the two organisations and the sums involved were not disclosed. The investigation was launched on April 21 into alleged "terrorist financing and participation in a terrorist conspiracy to commit crimes against persons". 1

Centre · 1The Media Line reported a coordinated US-French operation in which six people were arrested this week: French authorities detained Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid and Nordine Barika, and US authorities arrested Omar and Abdel Adhami of Louisiana and Raed Yousef of Florida. The report does not say which of the French detainees are the five charged. 2 Centre · 1According to prosecutors cited by The Media Line, the network operated from about 2020 and raised more than $1.7 million through campaigns presented as charity for Gaza, moving money through intermediaries and cryptocurrency. The US Justice Department also unsealed charges against Saleem Alzaq, 45, a Gaza-based man US officials identify as a Hamas fighter and deputy battalion commander in the Qassam Brigades. 2 Centre · 1US prosecutors allege Abdel Adhami contributed about $94,000, Omar Adhami about $11,000 and Yousef nearly $50,000. Alzaq faces charges including conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, sanctions violations, money laundering and fraud. Attorney General Todd Blanche said anyone who finances terrorist organisations responsible for the deaths of American citizens "should expect to be prosecuted". 2

Centre · 1Alongside the arrests, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Alzaq, two France-based fundraisers and two organisations accused of directing more than $2 million to Hamas through purported charitable activity and cryptocurrency. 2