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Five French NGO Figures Charged With Hamas Funding After €40 Million Seizure

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Charges and Judicial Control Announced On 21 February 2026 the national anti‑terrorist prosecutor (PNAT) placed five individuals linked to the NGOs Humani’Terre and Soutien Humani’Terre under judicial control and formally charged with financing Hamas, terrorism financing, organized abuse of trust, and money‑laundering of that abuse [1]. The indictment describes the alleged conduct as “financing a terrorist enterprise” and “abuse of trust in an organized gang” [1]. These charges mark the culmination of a multi‑year investigation into the charities’ financial networks [1].

Scale of Asset Seizure and Police Raids Police searches conducted the Monday after the indictment targeted Humani’Terre offices in Paris and La Courneuve, where the Asset Management Agency (Agrasc) seized the buildings and confiscated roughly €40 million in assets [1]. The seized assets include about €35 million in bank accounts or checks and more than €5 million in cash [1]. The operation represents one of the largest financial seizures linked to alleged terrorism financing in France [1].

Investigation Timeline and International Cooperation A preliminary probe opened on 3 November 2023, involving the anti‑terrorist criminal brigade, DGSI, and OCRGDF, and led to the first wave of raids on 31 January 2024 that seized computers and accounting files linking French, European, Palestinian and Jordanian charities [1]. Those raids uncovered nearly €40 million in cash and bank instruments across Humani’Terre branches in Paris, Lille, Lyon and Marseille [1]. Evidence gathered with cooperation from Italy, the United States and Israel prompted the appointment of three anti‑terrorist magistrates to oversee the case [1].

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Timeline

Oct 7, 2023 – Hamas launches a coordinated attack on southern Israel, killing dozens and igniting the Gaza war that later becomes the backdrop for European terrorism investigations. [1][2][3][4]

Nov 3, 2023 – French anti‑terror investigators open a preliminary probe into suspected Hamas financing, involving the DGSI, OCRGDF and the criminal brigade’s anti‑terrorist section. [5]

Jan 31, 2024 – French police raid Humani’Terre offices in Paris, Lille, Lyon and Marseille, seizing computers, accounting files linking multiple charities and roughly €40 million in cash and bank instruments; the raid uncovers digital records that later feed the 2026 indictment. [5]

Dec 27, 2025 – Italian counter‑terror and financial police arrest nine suspects in Genoa and Milan, seize more than €8 million in assets, and describe a “complex fundraising system” that raised about €7 million in the name of humanitarian aid but diverted over 71 % to Hamas’s military wing and families of militants. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi writes on X that the operation “lifts the veil on activities that pretended to aid Palestinians but concealed support for terrorist organizations.” [1][3][4]

Dec 27, 2025 – Prosecutors name Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, as the head of the Italian Hamas cell and allege that the network used triangulation transfers through bank accounts and abroad‑based organisations to funnel money to Gaza‑based groups deemed illegal by Israel. [3][4]

Dec 27, 2025 – The investigation expands through Eurojust cooperation with Dutch and other EU authorities, reflecting the EU’s broader effort to disrupt Hamas financing after the organization was placed on the EU terror list. [2][4]

Dec 28, 2025 – Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanks the police and calls the operation “particularly complex and important,” emphasizing Italy’s commitment to combatting terrorism financing amid large street protests over her pro‑Israel stance. [2]

Feb 21, 2026 – French anti‑terror prosecutor places five members of NGOs Humani’Terre and Soutien Humani’Terre under judicial control and formally charges them with “financing a terrorist enterprise,” “organized abuse of trust,” and “money laundering of abuse of trust in an organized gang linked to a terrorist enterprise,” after raids seize assets worth about €40 million, including €35 million in bank accounts and over €5 million in cash; the case is led by three anti‑terrorist magistrates and draws on evidence shared with Italy, the United States and Israel. [5]

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