Hamas money collector in Italy still operating despite the US sancions. Why?

His name is Mohammad Hannoun, a Genoa-based Palestinian, founder of the Charity Association of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (ABSPP) and president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy (API). Well-known among the European pro-Pal and Islamist groups, on October 7th, 2024, he was sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), together with two other EU-based Palestinians, all accused of being money collectors for Hamas.

The DOT press release indicates Hannoun as follows:

“…an Italy-based Hamas member who established the Charity Association of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, or Associazione Benefica di Solidarietà con il Popolo Palestinese (ABSPP), a sham charity in Italy which ostensibly raises funds for humanitarian purposes, but in reality helps bankroll Hamas’s military wing. As an executive at ABSPP, Hannoun has sent money to Hamas-controlled organizations since at least 2018. He has solicited funding for Hamas with senior Hamas officials and sent at least $4 million to Hamas over a 10-year period.”

In October 2024, the European Leadership Network (Elnet) published a report on Hamas in Europe, dedicating the Italian part to Hannoun and associates (including Suleiman Hijazi, Raed Dawoud and Raed al Salahat), and exposing the links between Hannoun and individuals active in other European countries and indicated as linked to Hamas; among these, some of those who were sanctioned by the United States.

However, Hannoun came up with a new initiative through the ABSPP, as revealed on January 28th by the Italian press agency ANSA: “ a twinning between Italian families and those of Gaza based on a monthly commitment of 200 euros by Italian families, for a duration of 6 months. This contribution is used to meet the primary needs of Gazan families, such as food, medicine, education and other essential needs.”

The association stated that contributions can be made directly at its offices in Milan, Rome, and Genoa or by bank transfer to the recently formed Associazione Benefica La Cupola d’oro. The initiative was promoted on Hannoun’s Instagram account “mohammadgenovese”.

In October 2024, Hannoun told ANSA that despite the sanctions, the Association of Palestinians in Italy still managed to collect 2 million euros for humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population.

It’s essential to recall that, in December of 2021, after several reports to the Anti-Money Laundering Office, Unicredit Bank suspended operations on the accounts of the ABSPP, which also has offices in Milan and Rome, due to a series of anomalies. From failure to register in the Revenue Agency register to the massive movement of cash, in some cases, to subjects registered on the blacklists of European databases. However, according to the Italian media, the indictment that was launched by the judicial office did not lead anywhere due to the lack of verifiable elements in the Palestinian territories.

Moreover, in August 2022, an investigative report published by OFCS Report, an Italian observatory with expertise in national and international security, exposed a series of political connections regarding Hannoun, on a national and international level, including photos of him next to Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Meshaal.

In July 0f 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Defense asked the Italian police to seize Hannoun’s money. From the investigation conducted by the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, it emerged that 500 thousand euros were available to the architect who in the past was accused by Israel, without any criminal repercussions, of hiding financial support to Palestinian suicide bombers.

It is also worth recalling that on October 10th, 2023, just three days after the massacre, while being interviewed by the Italian national TV station Rai3, said “Hamas’ attack is self-defense.”

On January 4th, 2024, Hannoun used his personal Facebook account to commemorate and glorify Yahya Ayyash, Hamas’ infamous bombmaker.

In November 2024, Hannoun praised the perpetrators of the pogrom that occurred in Amsterdam on November 7th, when Islamist thugs attacked the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans after the game against Ajax.

Going back to Hannoun’s money-collecting activity, on the evening of October 8th, 2024, immediately after the sanctions implemented by the US DOT, prosecutor Nicola Piacente stated that the Genoa Public Prosecutor’s Office could open a new investigation into Mohammad Hannoun if useful documentation for further investigation were to arrive from the United States. Indeed, great news, but a question logically arises: why do the Italian authorities require investigation material from the United States, since Hannoun is active on Italian soil?

No misunderstanding; the involvement of the US Department of Treasury is vital to eradicating such activities. However, where has Italy been so far on the issue? How is it possible that an individual who is under US sanctions and indicated as “Hamas’ money collector in Italy” is still able to collect money? At this point, the answer is up to the Italian authorities, and it would be more than appropriate for them to provide one.