Terrorism financing investigation: one arrest carried out in Florence

An arrest was carried out in Florence on Saturday morning, 27 December, in connection with a large anti-terrorism investigation into alleged financial support for Hamas. The operation took place in via del Campuccio, in the Oltrarno area, where officers went to a residential property and took one of the suspects into custody without resistance.

The intervention was carried out by specialised units of the Guardia di Finanza and the Polizia di Stato. During searches of the accommodation, investigators seized documents and other material considered relevant to the inquiry.

The Florence link

According to investigators, the person arrested in Florence is suspected of acting as a local contact involved in fundraising activities in Tuscany. These activities are alleged to have been conducted under the cover of humanitarian support initiatives, with funds later diverted to Hamas. The accusations are made at the preliminary investigation stage and are subject to judicial verification, in line with the presumption of innocence.

Florence emerges in the investigation as one of several Italian cities where the alleged network was active, alongside locations such as Genoa and Milan.

A nationwide operation

The arrest in Florence forms part of a broader anti-terrorism operation coordinated by the Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia e Antiterrorismo of Genoa, together with the Direzione Nazionale Antimafia e Antiterrorismo.

Across Italy, precautionary measures were ordered against nine individuals, all subject to pre-trial detention, as well as against three associations. Assets and funds worth more than €8 million were seized.

Alleged funding flows

Prosecutors allege that around €7 million was channelled over time through a network of associations formally dedicated to humanitarian aid for the Palestinian population. Investigators claim that a significant share of the money collected was instead directed, directly or indirectly, to Hamas or to organisations considered linked to it.

The investigation began with reports of suspicious financial transactions, some dating back to before 7 October 2023, and involved wiretaps, financial monitoring, document seizures and international judicial cooperation, including with authorities in other European Union countries and Israel.

The case remains under investigation, and further developments are expected as proceedings continue.

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