Since the October 7 massacre, Israel has been fighting not just on the military front, but in a battle over the financial pipelines feeding terror organizations. A new study by the Research and Foreign Relations Department at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism reveals how, under the guise of “humanitarian aid to Gaza,” a well-oiled fundraising machine operates across Europe for Hamas and other terror groups.
The report, titled “The Money Behind the Screen,” analyzes dozens of campaigns launched on popular crowdfunding platforms like JustGiving, HelloAsso, and Global Giving. According to the findings, more than 45 major campaigns by roughly 40 different organizations raised a combined total of at least $9.5 million. Researchers emphasize this is just “the tip of the iceberg,” as these figures only cover public platforms, while millions more flow through the organizations’ own websites, direct bank transfers, payment apps, and even cryptocurrency.
The Numbers Behind the ‘Charity’
The study distinguishes between two types of terror connections:
Direct links: Organizations whose leaders are known Hamas operatives, or entities officially designated as terror organizations. A prominent example is Interpal in Britain, designated as a terror organization by Israel and the U.S., and the Al-Khair Foundation, where Hossam Mansour—head of a department in Hamas’s internal security apparatus—served as the organization’s Gaza director until he was killed by the IDF in July 2024.
Indirect links: Organizations that partner with Hamas or Popular Front for the Liberation of ‘Palestine’ (PFLP) “front groups,” or those using rhetoric supporting terrorism. The study reveals that Médecins du Monde (MdM) in France employed Fadi Alwadia, a physiotherapist who simultaneously served as a missile expert for ‘Palestinian’ Islamic Jihad.
Europe’s Main Hubs:
• Britain: The most active hub. Crowdfunding platforms alone identified campaigns worth roughly $14 million. Organizations like Islamic Relief Worldwide and Human Appeal stand out for their fundraising volumes, despite known connections to entities associated with Hamas.
• France: Campaigns raised approximately €1.4 million. Notable is the Urgence ‘Palestine’ collective, where activists openly expressed support for the October 7 events and even banned criticism of Hamas’s rape acts at their events.
• Spain: The study points to the current left-wing government’s policies creating favorable infrastructure for radical pro-‘Palestinian’ organizations. Groups like Paz con Dignidad raised hundreds of thousands of euros transferred to “Al-Awda,” identified as an arm of the Popular Front.
• Netherlands: More limited but troubling activity, including Stichting Kifaia, whose founder justified the October 7 massacre as a “rebellion against occupation.”
The Transparency Gap and Lack of Oversight
One of the most alarming findings is the stark transparency gap. While the public can see the campaign and stated goal, it’s nearly impossible to trace the money’s final destination inside Gaza. In the vast majority of cases, researchers couldn’t locate the bank accounts of recipients in Gaza, raising serious concerns that funds are being used to rebuild terror infrastructure and finance Hamas operations.
Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli: “This is a security risk that cannot be ignored. European countries, wake up—funds transferred even under a humanitarian cover can reach entities connected to Hamas. The platforms are expected to act forcefully against this phenomenon.”
Ministry Director-General Avi Cohen-Scali: “This is a much broader phenomenon than meets the eye. Raising $9.5 million through public channels is just the tip of the iceberg. This is a security, political, and economic challenge requiring a systemic response from the international community.”
The Diaspora Affairs Ministry study serves as a warning sign to Western countries and tech platforms, highlighting the urgent need for close oversight of money flows to prevent well-meaning donors’ generosity from becoming fuel for Hamas’s terror engine.