$1.7 million raised in scheme for Hamas, including from U.S. donors, prosecutors say, announcing charges

October 1, 2026 / 10:23 PM EDT / CBS News

Nearly three years after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, federal prosecutors allege that more than $1.7 million was funneled to the terrorist group Hamas, including hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors in the United States.

Saleem Alzaq, a 45-year-old Gaza man who prosecutors allege is a longtime Hamas member, was charged with helping operate the fundraising campaign claiming to provide humanitarian aid, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.

Prosecutors allege Alzaq and his co-conspirators raised funds under the guise of providing food and winter necessities to Palestinians in Gaza between January 2020 and December 2025. The campaigns raised more than $1.7 million, including at least $626,000 from U.S.-based donors, according to the indictment.

Alzaq has been a Hamas member since at least 2017, prosecutors say, and has allegedly posted Hamas propaganda on social media, including posts celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Prosecutors allege Alzaq operated an international fundraising campaign spanning the U.S. and France. Co-conspirators in France allegedly helped collect and transfer money, while two brothers from Louisiana allegedly contributed about $105,000 and a Florida man allegedly provided nearly $50,000 to the terror network.

Alzaq was charged…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/