Union of Good network linked to Hamas funding via European charities

An extensive network of Islamic charitable organizations in Europe, ideologically linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and supported by Qatari funds, has reportedly funneled resources to Middle Eastern entities, including Hamas. At the center of this system is the ‘Union of Good’, an umbrella organization founded by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Al-Qaradawi, who resided in Doha for decades with the support of Qatari leadership, utilized platforms such as Al Jazeera to gain global influence. The network has been described as a mechanism for ‘economic jihad’, leveraging religious donations known as zakat to provide financial support to militant causes.

While the United States blacklisted the Union of Good in 2008 for facilitating transfers to Hamas, the network's decentralized structure has allowed it to persist. By utilizing local institutions, mosques, and cultural centers, the movement can shift activities to new legal entities when one is sanctioned. Examples of related entities include the UK-based Interpal and the Al-Aqsa Foundation, which was banned in Germany in 2003. Qatar has consistently denied allegations of terrorism financing, maintaining that its contributions are strictly for legitimate humanitarian purposes.