Almost three years after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, federal prosecutors say an international fundraising operation routed more than $1.7 million 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 accused of helping run the campaign. The allegations were outlined in an indictment unsealed Thursday.
According to prosecutors, Alzaq and his alleged co-conspirators solicited donations between January 2020 and December 2025 by claiming the money would provide food and winter supplies to Palestinians in Gaza. The effort reportedly collected more than $1.7 million, including at least $626,000 from U.S.-based contributors.
Prosecutors say Alzaq had belonged to Hamas since at least 2017 and used social media to share the group’s propaganda. That activity allegedly included posts celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, assault.
The alleged fundraising network extended across the United States and France. Prosecutors say associates in France helped gather and move donations, while two Louisiana brothers contributed roughly $105,000 and a Florida resident allegedly sent nearly $50,000 to the network.
Alzaq faces charges of conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, launder money and defraud the United States. The first three counts each carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years. Alzaq has not been taken into custody, and prosecutors say he remained in Gaza during the period covered by the allegations.
The indictment says Alzaq opened another campaign on Oct. 7, 2023, purportedly to help Palestinians wounded that day. Investigators allege the appeal stayed active until approximately Oct. 12.
Evidence in the case also came from an undercover investigation. Prosecutors say the operation produced communications indicating that Alzaq understood donations were ultimately being directed to Hamas.
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In November 2025, an undercover officer posing as a Hamas supporter based in New York allegedly contacted Alzaq through Snapchat. Prosecutors say Alzaq claimed he had methods for receiving money in New York and offered to put the officer in touch with people there.
A month later, Alzaq allegedly said he worked with donors who wanted to send funds to “the Green,” a term prosecutors say referred to Hamas. He reportedly told the undercover officer that he accepted money and passed it to “the Green,” while warning that documenting the transfers would be difficult because Hamas members avoided using identification.
Prosecutors also allege that Alzaq described a way to send money every month through coded phrases such as “bread,” “bakeries,” “buy bread” and “give it to the bakeries.”
The indictment points to earlier Snapchat exchanges involving a U.S.-based Hamas supporter. When that person asked in January 2024 about money sent to “the bread people,” Alzaq allegedly replied that he had “learned the way” and could deliver “whatever you want” to them.
Alzaq also allegedly urged donors to avoid mentioning Hamas so payment accounts would not be closed. In October 2024, prosecutors say he instructed followers not to include phrases such as “Free Palestine” or “long live Hamas” when sending money 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.”
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