The Justice Department announced coordinated enforcement actions targeting a Hamas terror finance network, including the unsealing of an indictment against Saleem Alzaq and the arrests of Omar Adhami, Abdel Adhami, and Raed Yousef for allegedly paying, soliciting, and collecting funds for Hamas. Authorities said French counterparts also detained three associates of Alzaq, identified as Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid, and Nordine Barika, in an operation led by the General Directorate for Internal Security.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said those who finance or assist terrorist groups that have killed American citizens should expect prosecution. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau continues efforts to cut off funding streams to Hamas and alleged the defendants used cryptocurrency to obscure transactions. Patel credited multiple FBI field offices, the Counterterrorism Division, the Paris Legal Attaché, and French authorities with supporting the investigation.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg described money as the lifeblood of terrorist organizations and said the arrests disrupted a global financing apparatus supporting Hamas. He recognized Joint Task Force 10-7 for its role in seeking accountability related to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, which officials say killed more than 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages, including American citizens.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald of the Southern District of New York said Alzaq allegedly ran a global network that solicited more than a million dollars from individual donors, including in the United States. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle of the Eastern District of Louisiana said filings in his district accuse Omar and Abdel Adhami of providing resources intended to fund Hamas. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe of the Middle District of Florida said the investigation reflects domestic and international resolve to pursue and prosecute those engaged in terror financing.
Hamas terror finance network detailed in court filings
According to the indictment in the Southern District of New York, complaints in the Eastern District of Louisiana, and an indictment in the Middle District of Florida, Alzaq, 45, of Gaza, is a Hamas member and a battalion deputy in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Officials said he works in the Photography Department of the Shujaiyya Brigade Media Office, has documented events featuring senior Hamas leaders, and distributes material for the group’s propaganda apparatus. Authorities allege he posted praise for Hamas leaders and celebrated the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Prosecutors say that since at least January 2020, Alzaq has run an international fundraising operation that drew donations from around the world, including the United States, by promoting purported humanitarian campaigns for Gaza while directing money to Hamas. Officials allege he raised more than 1.7 million dollars over that period, with assistance from associates in France, including Barika and Oualid.
Court documents allege Abdel Adhami, 35, and Omar Adhami, 33, of Covington, Louisiana, contributed funds to the network beginning in or about February 2021. Prosecutors say Abdel Adhami sent about 94,000 dollars and Omar Adhami about 11,000 dollars, and that both sought to conceal contributions through wire transfers and intermediaries. Authorities also allege that Yousef, of Lutz, Florida, provided almost 50,000 dollars to the effort.
Charges and potential penalties
Alzaq is charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiring to commit money laundering, and conspiring to defraud the United States. Each of the first three counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the conspiracy to defraud count carries a maximum of five years.
Omar Adhami is charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiring to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Abdel Adhami faces the same set of charges as Omar Adhami, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Yousef, 56, of Lutz, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, five counts of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, one count of providing funds, goods, and services to a specially designated terrorist, five counts of attempting to provide funds, goods, and services to a specially designated terrorist, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, five counts of money laundering, and one count of passport fraud. Most counts carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, with the passport fraud charge carrying a maximum of five years.
Investigative teams and prosecutions
Officials said the Alzaq matter is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz, Ben Arad, Sarah L. Kushner, Juliana N. Murray, and Keith Savino of the Southern District of New York are prosecuting, with support from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
Authorities said the Adhami case is being handled by the FBI New Orleans Field Office, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Eastern District of Louisiana. The Yousef case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Schmidt and Michael Buchanan of the Middle District of Florida.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. For related terrorism prosecutions, see the case of an Uzbek national extradited to face U.S. terror support charges.