Federal Indictments Unveil $1.7M Hamas Fundraising Network Linked to U.S. Donors

Key points

• Saleem Alzaq, a 45-year-old Hamas member in Gaza, faces charges for conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
• The fundraising campaign, active from January 2020 to December 2025, raised over $1.7 million, including $626,000 from U.S. donors, under the guise of providing food and winter necessities to Palestinians.
• Three co-conspirators were arrested in the U.S.: brothers Abdel and Omar Adhami from Louisiana and Raed Yousef from Florida, who are charged with money laundering, wire fraud, and providing material support to Hamas.
• An undercover NYPD officer contacted Alzaq on Snapchat in November 2025, leading to the identification of the Louisiana brothers as key funders who used coded terms like 'bread' to refer to Hamas fighters.
• Abdel Adhami is accused of sending approximately $83,000 to Alzaq between 2023 and 2026, while Omar Adhami sent about $6,000, and Raed Yousef contributed nearly $50,000.

Background

This case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to disrupt financial networks supporting designated terrorist organizations. The indictment comes nearly three years after the October 7, 2023 attack, during which Alzaq allegedly launched a new fundraising campaign claiming to support injured Gazans. Previous coverage has noted the complex media and financial environments in Gaza, but this case specifically targets transnational fundraising operations that bypass traditional banking channels through social media platforms like Snapchat and Telegram.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and NBC News emphasize the scale of the fundraising scheme and the involvement of U.S. donors, highlighting the undercover operation that led to the arrests. The New York Post focuses on the specific roles of the Louisiana brothers, detailing their use of multiple social media accounts and coded language to evade detection. NOLA.com provides local context on the arrests in St. Tammany Parish. All sources agree on the core facts but differ in emphasis: CBS and NBC stress the international scope and the DOJ's stance, while the New York Post and NOLA.com focus on the local impact and the specific actions of the arrested individuals. The New York Post notes that the brothers were arrested last month, while CBS and NBC report the unsealing of indictments on Thursday.

Why it matters

The case demonstrates the effectiveness of cross-border law enforcement cooperation in dismantling terrorist financing networks. It underscores the risks of using social media for fundraising and the importance of monitoring coded language in online communications. The charges against U.S. citizens for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization carry significant prison sentences, serving as a deterrent to similar activities. Additionally, the case highlights the ongoing challenges in tracking and preventing the flow of funds to designated terrorist organizations, particularly when they operate under the guise of humanitarian aid.

What to watch

The next steps will likely involve the trial of the three arrested co-conspirators, with the possibility of further charges or indictments as the investigation continues. The DOJ may pursue additional assets or individuals involved in the fundraising network. Alzaq, who remains in Gaza, may face international cooperation efforts for his arrest or extradition. The case may also lead to increased scrutiny of social media platforms and their role in facilitating terrorist financing.