Mohammad Hannoun

Mohammad Mahmoud Ahmad Hannoun, born in 1962, Jordan, moved to Italy in 1983, settling permanently in Liguria. He is considered a prominent member of the Italian cell and a key figure within the European network of the organization Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, known as Hamas.

According to the Genoa Public Prosecutor’s Office, Hannoun arrived in Italy already radicalized, with the intention of replicating one of the organization’s primary funding strategies: raising money internationally through the creation and management of charitable associations that formally engage in humanitarian activities.

In 1994, he founded the Associazione Benefica di Solidarietà con il Popolo Palestinese (ABSPP), serving as its legal representative from September 21, 2001, to March 20, 2018, and subsequently maintaining a role as its sole employee. He is also the legal representative of ABSPP ODV, established in 2003, as well as the de facto administrator of additional charitable organizations, including “La Cupola d’Oro” and “La Palma,” which were reportedly created to circumvent the closure of ABSPP’s bank accounts.

Investigations attribute to Hannoun a central role in fundraising activities ostensibly aimed at supporting the Palestinian population but allegedly largely diverted to finance Hamas. In particular, approximately 71% of the funds raised are believed to have been channelled to the terrorist organization. The total amount of confirmed transfers identified during the investigation stands at €7,288,248.15.

Hannoun’s leadership position within these structures allegedly allowed him to directly manage organizational activities, issue operational and administrative directives, and maintain direct relationships with counterparts in other European countries as well as with members of the organization. As early as 2001, he organized a telephone address by Ahmed Yassin during an event held in Italy, indicating early connections with the movement’s leadership. Investigators have also obtained photographic material allegedly showing Hannoun in contexts linked to the organization, including images of him alongside armed individuals, children in uniform, and symbols associated with Hamas, as well as photographs depicting him with Ali Baraka near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

On the international level, Hannoun have developed an extensive network of contacts. Particularly significant is his relationship with Amin Abou Rashed, with whom he maintained ongoing communications and discussed the management of collected funds. Intercepted conversations dating back to 2002 refer to sums exceeding €5 million raised during Ramadan, of which approximately €1.7 million came from Europe. Additional documented contacts include members of the Al Aqsa Foundation in Aachen (declared illegal in Germany in 2002), the Austrian representative Adel Doghman Abdullah (alias Abu Bara), and other individuals operating in the Netherlands whose assets have been frozen due to alleged ties with Hamas.

The European dimension of his activities is further confirmed by his involvement in the European Palestinian Conference (EPC), where he served as Secretary General and board member. In May 2023, the organization elected Amin Abou Rashed as its president, who was later arrested in June of the same year. According to investigative findings, Hannoun represents one of the main links between European cells and the organization’s leadership.

Direct connections with Hamas also emerge through his contacts with senior figures, including Ismail Haniyeh, whom he reportedly met on several occasions up until spring 2024. Following Haniyeh’s death in July 2024, Hannoun publicly acknowledged this relationship. Additional reported contacts include other figures such as Alisawi, Abu Khaled, and Interior Minister Kamel Abu Madi, as well as participation in official ceremonies linked to the organization.

Hannoun’s presence in contexts associated with Hamas in Italy dates back at least to 1991, when a cell operating within the Genoa Islamic Center, allegedly coordinated by him. In 2001, a search conducted at his residence led to the discovery of organizational documents. Investigations at the time also highlighted his prominent role within the center and his involvement in organizing conferences featuring speakers from the Islamic world, some of whose speeches were reportedly oriented toward glorifying terrorist strategies.

More recent investigations were launched on October 18, 2023, by DIGOS and the GICO unit of the Guardia di Finanza, alleging charges of terrorist financing and incitement to commit crimes aggravated by the glorification of terrorist acts. These investigations, later coordinated also by the Special Currency Police Unit of Rome (from December 13, 2023), relied on telephone, environmental, and digital interceptions, OSINT activities, and financial and asset analyses. Part of the evidence used originates from materials seized by Israeli forces (IDF) during military operations and shared with Italian authorities through international cooperation channels, thus constituting extrajudicial evidence.

The operation, codenamed “Dominio,” concluded with investigative reports on May 16, 2025, followed by a supplementary report on July 7, 2025, which, according to the prosecution, confirmed the continued existence of a structured and active international network.

On October 18, 2025, during a demonstration in Milan, he justified summary executions attributed to Hamas; similar remarks were repeated on October 25, 2025, in Rome during an international conference on Zionism.

Investigators also highlight the involvement of members of his family, including his son and his brother, the latter being in contact with Elasaly Yaser. Intercepted conversations allegedly show that Hannoun was aware of and involved in these relationships, including meetings with individuals linked to the operational network.

A further significant development concerns recent judicial proceedings. In April 2026, the Supreme Court annulled, with referral, the pre-trial detention order issued against Hannoun, requiring a new review by the competent court. The decision is based, among other factors, on the need to reassess the admissibility of part of the evidence, particularly that originating from foreign intelligence sources. However, this ruling did not result in his immediate release, and he remains subject to precautionary measures pending the new decision.