Italian authorities arrested nine people linked to three charitable organisations on suspicion of raising millions of euros in funds for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, anti-terrorism prosecutors said in a statement Sunday.
The suspects are accused of sending about 7 million euros (NZ$14.1 million) to "associations based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, or Israel, owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas", the statement said.
Among those arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, prosecutors said, describing him as the "head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organisation".
The European Union has Hamas listed on its terror list.
According to Italian prosecutors, who collaborated with other EU countries in the probe, the illegal funds were delivered through "triangulation operations" via bank transfers or through organisations based abroad to associations based in Gaza, which have been declared illegal by Israel for their ties to Hamas.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi wrote on X that the operation "lifted the veil on behaviour and activities which, pretending to be initiatives in favour of the Palestinian population, concealed support for and participation in terrorist organisations".
There was no immediate comment from the suspects or the associations.
In January 202, the European Council decided to extend existing restrictive measures against 12 individuals and three entities that support the financing of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
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