Shocking Hamas Fundraising Scheme Revealed: 3 Charged
Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Thursday accusing a Gaza resident of running a Hamas fundraising scheme that allegedly raised more than $1.7 million under the cover of humanitarian aid, CBS News reported. Two Louisiana brothers also face charges tied to the same Hamas fundraising scheme. All three are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What the Hamas fundraising scheme allegedly involved
Saleem Alzaq, 45, is charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions law, conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to defraud the United States, according to CBS News. The first three counts carry a maximum of 20 years in prison each. The fraud count carries up to five years.
Prosecutors allege the Hamas fundraising scheme ran from January 2020 to December 2025 and raised at least $626,000 from donors in the United States. Alzaq has not been arrested, and prosecutors say he was in Gaza throughout the alleged conduct.
CBS News also reported that Alzaq used coded terms such as “bread” and “the Green” to refer to Hamas. An undercover New York Police Department officer made contact with him through Snapchat in November 2025.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department’s “intelligence analysts uncovered this international finance network and built the case,” according to reports on the investigation.
The Louisiana defendants
Abdel Adhami and Omar Adhami were arrested in Louisiana after a criminal complaint was filed Sept. 11 in the Eastern District of Louisiana, according to The Jerusalem Post, which cited NBC News. Abdel Adhami faces charges of material support to a foreign terrorist organization, wire fraud and money laundering. Omar Adhami faces material support and wire fraud charges.
Prosecutors allege Abdel Adhami posted Hamas propaganda on Snapchat from 2021 to November 2025 and solicited donations. Reports on the complaint say he sent more than $80,000 through PayPal accounts. CBS News reported that the brothers together gave about $105,000 and that a Florida man gave nearly $50,000. Reports also tied associates in France to the network, but details were not independently verified.
What happens next
No trial date has been reported in the Hamas fundraising scheme case. For other recent federal cases, see the Jay-Z extortion case, the Lil Durk trial delay and the RAF Fairford arrest.