A suspected Hamas operative accused of collecting nearly $2 million in donations supposedly intended to help sick children in Gaza allegedly boasted about having a network of contacts in New York, according to newly filed court documents.
Saleem Alzaq, described by prosecutors as an employee of Hamas’ “media office,” allegedly told an undercover NYPD officer on Snapchat in 2025 that he had “so many” friends in New York, federal authorities said.
The undercover officer, using the name “Hussain,” had asked how he could provide financial support. Alzaq allegedly replied: “My friends are in New York, so many of them; they are in New York and in the state of Ohio and all over the United States.”
“Let me see my friends in New York,” Alzaq allegedly continued, according to the court papers. “They are all from Palestine, from the West Bank and from Jerusalem, and they are American, all of them; they are young people and they send me all the time.”
The 45-year-old alleged Hamas spokesman, who authorities believe remains at large in Gaza, was indicted Thursday in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors accuse him of directing $1.7 million to Hamas through donations he represented as humanitarian assistance.
The court filings do not say how Hamas allegedly used the money or whether any of it financed specific terrorist operations.
Details of Alzaq’s alleged conversation with the undercover NYPD officer emerged in a separate but connected federal complaint unsealed earlier this week in Louisiana.
Abdel Adhami and his brother, Omar Adhami, were arrested in Louisiana over accusations that they sent money to Alzaq. Prosecutors allege Abdel transferred more than $83,000 to Hamas between 2023 and 2026, while Omar allegedly sent $6,000.
Raed Yousef, a Florida resident, faces separate charges alleging that he funneled nearly $50,000 to Hamas. US officials also said three other alleged associates of Alzaq—Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid and Nordine Barika—were arrested in France by the country’s General Directorate for Internal Security.
Authorities have not charged anyone based in New York in connection with the alleged fundraising network.
“This office and our law enforcement partners will root out and prosecute those who finance Hamas, no matter where they are located,” Manhattan US Attorney Jamie McDonald said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, the Adhami brothers used coded language to conceal the alleged transfers, referring to Hamas fighters and financial support with the word “bread.”
“This is the message I wanted to deliver to the person who donated the bread,” Alzaq allegedly wrote to Abdel on Snapchat in January 2024, court documents say.
“Some of them received the bread, thanks be to god,” he allegedly added.
Prosecutors also allege that Alzaq regularly shared pro-Hamas material online and warned supporters not to include phrases such as “Free Palestine” or “Long Live Hamas” with their donations, fearing his PayPal account could be shut down.
In the indictment, Manhattan federal prosecutors said “Free Palestine” referred to what they described as Hamas’ stated objective of eliminating Israel and replacing it with an Arab-Muslim state governed by Sharia law.
Attorneys identified as representing the Adhami brothers did not immediately respond Friday to requests for comment. The Post also could not immediately confirm whether the other defendants had lawyers representing them.
