U.S. and France target Hamas-linked $2M fundraising network

U.S. and French authorities have conducted coordinated arrests and sanctions against a fundraising network allegedly linked to Hamas. The network is accused of raising approximately $2 million, including more than $1.7 million collected since January 2020, under the guise of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The U.S. Department of Justice identified several individuals involved, including Saleem Alzaq, described as a Hamas member and a deputy in the group’s military wing in Gaza. Other named individuals include Omar Adhami and Abdel Adhami of Louisiana, Raed Yousef of Florida, and Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid, and Nordine Barika in France. Charges include conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, money laundering, wire fraud, and sanctions violations.

Complementing these legal actions, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned the network through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The Treasury highlighted the use of cryptocurrency transfers as a key mechanism in the network’s financial infrastructure to move funds rapidly across borders. These sanctions prohibit U.S. persons from conducting transactions with the designated parties and allow for the freezing of assets under U.S. jurisdiction.