U.S. and France Target Alleged Hamas Fundraising Network

The U.S. Justice Department announced charges against Saleem Alzaq and three U.S. associates on Friday, while French authorities arrested three people described as Alzaq associates, in a coordinated investigation into an alleged international fundraising network for Hamas. The department alleges the network solicited donations presented as humanitarian aid for Gaza and directed the money to Hamas. The defendants’ guilt has not been established. The Justice Department said Alzaq was charged in an indictment and remains at large. Omar Adhami, Abdel Adhami and Raed Yousef were arrested in the United States, according to the reports. French authorities arrested Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid and Nordine Barika. The reports did not establish what charges, if any, the three people arrested in France face. According to the U.S. indictment, Alzaq operated the fundraising network since about January 2020, collecting money through campaigns described as aid for people in Gaza. Prosecutors allege that funds were instead directed to Hamas. The indictment estimates that the network raised about $1.75 million, including approximately $626,000 from U.S. donors.