In a major blow to the Hamas structure in Europe, the Israeli government on Sunday revealed that with Israeli intelligence and technical assistance, top Hamas leader Mohammad Hanoun and six other senior figures associated with the organization have been arrested in Italy. According to the Israeli government, this action is a major blow against Hamas’s terrorist and financial network in Europe. Those arrested include a senior member of the Hamas leadership in Europe and another prominent figure associated with the continental leadership.
The joint operation involved the Counter-Economic Terrorism Headquarters (ECT) within the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Intelligence/CEO Division of the Israel Police, the Intelligence Unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security agency). These agencies handed over crucial information and evidence to Italian law enforcement agencies through mutually agreed official channels. During the operation, Italian agencies seized cash, property, and other financial resources. Investigating agencies suspect that the accused were systematically funneling funds to the military and civilian wings of the Hamas designated terrorist organization.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “There is no safe haven for Hamas terrorists and those who seek to harm Israel, neither in the Middle East nor in Europe. Those who think of funding terrorism while hiding abroad are seriously mistaken.” The investigation in Italy is currently ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests has not been ruled out.