US charges Gaza man over $1.7 million Hamas fundraising scheme

October 2, 2026 at 07:33 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Federal prosecutors charged Salim Alzak, a 45-year-old Gaza resident, with running an international fundraising scheme that directed over $1.7 million to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid. The indictment, made public on Thursday, alleges he collected funds from January 2020 through December 2025, including at least $626,000 from US donors. Alzak faces charges of conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, money laundering, and defrauding the United States.

Key Facts

Salim Alzak, 45, is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
The fundraising campaigns raised more than $1.7 million, with at least $626,000 coming from donors in the United States.
Alzak has been a Hamas member since at least 2017 and distributed propaganda supporting the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The maximum penalty for each of the first three counts is 20 years in prison, while the final count carries up to five years.
In November 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a Hamas supporter contacted Alzak via Snapchat and discussed code words for monthly transfers.

The Indictment

Federal prosecutors charged Salim Alzak, a 45-year-old resident of Gaza, with involvement in an international fundraising scheme that directed money to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The indictment was made public on Thursday, according to CBS News. Prosecutors allege that Alzak and his suspected accomplices collected money from January 2020 through December 2025 purportedly for food and winter necessities for Palestinians in Gaza. The campaigns raised more than $1.7 million, with at least $626,000 coming from donors in the United States.

Fundraising Network

According to prosecutors, Alzak has been a Hamas member since at least 2017 and distributed the group's propaganda materials on social media, including posts supporting the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The fundraising campaign operated in the United States and France, with suspected accomplices in France helping collect and transfer money. Two brothers from Louisiana allegedly contributed about $105,000, while a Florida resident contributed nearly $50,000.

Charges and Undercover Operation

Alzak is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The maximum penalty for each of the first three counts is 20 years in prison, while the final count carries up to five years if he is convicted. According to prosecutors, Alzak has not been arrested and was in Gaza during the alleged crimes. In November 2025, a law enforcement officer posing as a Hamas supporter from New York contacted Alzak via Snapchat and discussed code words for monthly transfers of funds. The indictment also states that Alzak advised donors not to mention Hamas in payment descriptions in order to avoid account freezes.