Nearly three years after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, federal prosecutors allege that more than $1.7 million was funneled to the terrorist organization, including hundreds of thousands of dollars donated from the United States.
Saleem Alzaq, a 45-year-old Gaza resident whom prosecutors describe as a longtime Hamas member, was charged with helping run a fundraising operation that purported to support humanitarian relief, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.
The indictment alleges that Alzaq and his co-conspirators solicited donations between January 2020 and December 2025 while claiming the money would provide food and winter supplies to Palestinians in Gaza. The campaigns collected more than $1.7 million, including at least $626,000 from donors based in the U.S., prosecutors said.
Prosecutors say Alzaq has belonged to Hamas since at least 2017 and allegedly used social media to share Hamas propaganda, including posts celebrating the group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
According to prosecutors, Alzaq helped oversee an international fundraising network that extended across the United States and France. Co-conspirators in France allegedly collected and transferred funds, while two Louisiana brothers reportedly donated about $105,000 and a Florida man contributed nearly $50,000 to the terror network.
Alzaq faces one count each of conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to defraud the United States. The first three charges carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison upon conviction; the charge involving conspiracy to defraud carries a maximum sentence of five years. Alzaq has not been arrested, and prosecutors say he remained in Gaza during the alleged conduct.
The indictment further alleges that Alzaq opened a new fundraising campaign on Oct. 7, 2023, claiming it would assist Gazans injured that day. Prosecutors said the campaign stayed active until about Oct. 12.
An undercover investigation also produced evidence that prosecutors say showed Alzaq knew donations were being directed to Hamas.
In November 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a Hamas supporter from New York contacted Alzaq through Snapchat, prosecutors said. Alzaq allegedly told the officer he had methods for receiving money in New York and offered to connect him with contacts there.
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The next month, Alzaq allegedly said he worked with people like the undercover officer who wanted to send money to “the Green,” a phrase prosecutors say referred to Hamas. He allegedly stated that he accepted money and passed it to “the Green,” but warned that providing proof would be difficult because Hamas members avoided using identification.
Alzaq also allegedly described a way to send money each month using coded terms such as “bread,” “bakeries,” “buy bread” and “give it to the bakeries.”
Prosecutors pointed to earlier Snapchat exchanges in which Alzaq allegedly discussed similar wording with a Hamas supporter in the United States. After the supporter asked in January 2024 about money sent to “the bread people,” Alzaq allegedly replied that he had “learned the way” and could deliver them “whatever you want.”
The indictment also alleges that Alzaq instructed donors to avoid mentioning Hamas so their accounts would not be shut down. In October 2024, prosecutors say, he told followers not to include phrases such as “Free Palestine” or “long live Hamas” when sending donations to his PayPal accounts.
“Our intelligence analysts uncovered this international finance network and built the case that exposed more than $2 million being funneled to Hamas,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. “Saleem Alzaq, a leader in Hamas’ military arm responsible for planning and carrying out terrorist attacks, and the other defendants allegedly solicited donations under the guise of humanitarian aid and then directed that money to Hamas.”
