What's happened
A coordinated network has raised millions to support Hamas, using charities, cryptocurrency and online fundraising. Investigations in the US and abroad identify individuals charged or sanctioned, with authorities saying funds reached Hamas despite humanitarian aims. The cases underscore ongoing enforcement against terror financing.
What's behind the headline?
Context and implications
- The network spans France, the US and Gaza-linked actors, showing how online fundraising can bypass traditional oversight.
- Investigations reveal coded language and undercover operations that helped dismantle the scheme.
What’s changing now
- Authorities are tightening scrutiny on charitable entities and crypto wallets to prevent abuse for terrorism financing.
What readers should watch
- Follow court filings for charges and potential new indictments; monitor any related sanctions updates.
How we got here
Investigations trace a multi-year fundraising operation linked to Hamas, involving French-based charities and US/Louisiana individuals. The operation reportedly shifted funds through deceptive fronts and crypto channels, with a total raised since 2020 surpassing $1.7 million, and a portion redirected to Hamas after the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.
Our analysis
Arab News reports on US Treasury sanctions, French-based charities and Hamas funding networks. New York Post covers indictments in Louisiana and the undercover NYPD investigation. The Times of Israel details a separate Louisiana-linked conspiracy and coded communications. All sources describe a broader pattern of fundraising that has supported Hamas since 2020, with sums exceeding $2 million in some accounts.
Go deeper
- What new sanctions might be announced next?
- How might charities and crypto platforms tighten controls to prevent misuse?
- Are state actors coordinating to disrupt similar funding networks?
More on these topics
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United States - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Hamas
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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France - Country in Europe
France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.