Prosecutors say $1.7 million funneled to Hamas via U.S. donors
Federal prosecutors allege that more than $1.7 million was raised for Hamas, including at least $626,000 from donors in the United States, through a campaign that pretended to provide humanitarian aid.
According to a newly unsealed indictment, Saleem Alzaq, a 45-year-old from Gaza who has been linked to Hamas since at least 2017, orchestrated a cross-border fundraising scheme that claimed to supply food and winter necessities to Gaza residents. The operation, active from January 2020 through December 2025, amassed over $1.7 million, with at least $626,000 coming from U.S. donors, including contributions from two Louisiana brothers and a Florida resident.
Prosecutors say Alzaq communicated with an undercover officer on Snapchat, using terms like “bread” and “bakeries” to hide the flow of money to Hamas, which he referred to as “the Green.” He also instructed supporters to avoid mentioning Hamas or “Free Palestine” in donation notes to evade account closures. The charges—conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to launder money, and to defraud the United States—carry maximum sentences of 20 years for the first three counts and five years for the fraud count. Alzaq has not been arrested and is believed to be residing in Gaza.
Why it matters
The case highlights how terrorist groups exploit charitable appeals and digital platforms to secure funding from abroad.
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