Hamas funding scheme uncovered by Italian police, tied to charitable foundations

The prosecutor’s office in the city of Genoa said the detainees are accused of involvement in the organization’s activities and of providing financial support to Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union.

Investigators found that over the past two years, the suspects may have transferred around €7 million to structures linked to Hamas. The funds were raised under the guise of humanitarian aid.

During the searches, police also seized assets worth more than €8 million.

The investigation began after suspicious financial transactions were identified, Reuters reported.

It was later expanded through cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the Netherlands and other EU countries. Coordination between the states was provided by the EU agency Eurojust.

Israel-Hamas peace agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is prepared to take retaliatory measures after an Israeli soldier was wounded in an explosion in the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas group has denied involvement in the incident, suggesting that the explosive device may have been left there from earlier fighting.

RBC-Ukraine also reported that on October 8, Israel and the Hamas group agreed to implement the first phase of a peace plan proposed during talks held in Egypt.

Just two days later, the agreement took effect with a ceasefire coming into force. Israeli forces withdrew to a buffer zone around the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian residents began returning to areas they had previously left.

On October 13, leaders of the US, Egypt, and Türkiye signed an agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh to end the fighting in Gaza. They acted as mediators in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Meanwhile, in early December, reports emerged that Donald Trump was preparing to present the second phase of the plan to resolve the situation in the Gaza Strip.