Hamas’s Covert Fundraising Network Exposed in Europe

The Ad Kan group unveiled a report this week, exposing how Hamas operatives have been operating clandestinely in Europe, posing as journalists and charity workers, to raise funds for the terrorist organization. These illegal fundraising efforts have been conducted through organizations that have been outlawed in various countries, including Israel and the United States. Some of these funds were earmarked for carrying out deadly terror attacks, including suicide bombings.

Ad Kan, a group founded by IDF officers and intelligence unit graduates, specializes in uncovering such illicit funding operations. Their undercover investigation yielded email correspondence and photographs of senior Hamas figures in Europe, including former leader Khaled Mashaal.

The report details how Hamas collaborates with anti-Israel and far-left organizations in Europe to undermine Israel. Ad Kan CEO Gilad Ach emphasized that while Israel has been engaged in military confrontations with Hamas, little attention has been given to combating its illegal fundraising activities abroad.

For years, Hamas has been working with activists in countries such as the Netherlands, Britain, Denmark and others, using seemingly legitimate human rights organizations as fronts for their operations. Recently, Ad Kan’s research led to the arrest of Amin Abu Rashid, an alleged senior Hamas official in the Netherlands. Abu Rashid had raised millions in illegal funds, which were funneled to the terror group through human rights organizations.

The investigation revealed that one of the “charity” organizations associated with Abu Rashid had been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity by the U.S. in 2003, making all transactions with the organization illegal. Another suspected terror-linked group, Asra, claimed to gather funds for supporting orphans in Gaza.

Abu Rashid had gained prominence among BDS movement activists, even consulting them on strategies to harm Israel. An email exchange revealed how a BDS leader in the Netherlands, who happened to be Jewish, sought Abu Rashid’s advice on hiring an anti-Israeli Palestinian. They were both part of a Palestinian campaign that attacked Israel and Zionism on the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

The investigation also exposed Zaher Birawi, a broadcaster on Al-Hiwar, an Arabic-language news channel in London affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Birawi expressed support for the 2001 Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing that killed 16 Jews, Hy”d, including seven children and an expectant woman, and wounded 130 others. Birawi was involved in heading several “charity” organizations linked to Hamas.

This report has raised concerns as fundraising offices associated with Hamas were also reported in Germany, France and other European Union countries. Ach stressed the importance of public and governmental awareness and urged action against this harmful event that deeply impacts Israel.