Two brothers from Louisiana have been charged with terrorism-related offenses after allegedly helping channel money to Hamas through online campaigns presented as humanitarian relief for Gaza. The investigation was aided by the New York Police Department.
Federal indictments unsealed recently allege that Abdel Adhami and his brother, Omar Adhami, were arrested in Louisiana last month after collecting donations online and directing funds to Saleem Alzaq. Prosecutors identify Alzaq as a Hamas member who frequently shares the group’s propaganda on social media.
According to the allegations, Abdel transferred more than $83,000 to Hamas between 2023 and 2026, while Omar allegedly sent approximately $6,000.
The fundraising effort solicited contributions from donors worldwide, including people in the United States, while publicly claiming the money would be used to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza residents, according to a complaint against Alzaq.
Prosecutors say the operation had generated at least $1.7 million since 2020.
“Although these campaigns were publicly promoted as efforts to raise humanitarian aid, Alzaq actually used proceeds from them to support Hamas,” the complaint alleges.
The alleged scheme began to come into focus in November 2025, when Alzaq unknowingly contacted an undercover NYPD detective using the name “Hussain” on Snapchat.
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A month later, Alzaq instructed the undercover officer to contact Abdel about arranging future transfers.
“Call him, reach an agreement and determine the best way to transfer and send the funds. This young man sends money to me every month,” the complaint quotes Alzaq as saying.
Court documents do not indicate whether the undercover detective ultimately sent any money to Abdel.
Both Abdel and Omar Adhami are charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and committing wire fraud.
Alzaq faces separate conspiracy charges involving material support for a foreign terrorist organization, violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, money laundering and defrauding the United States.
“The NYPD’s counterterrorism work knows no borders,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement following the arrests.
Tisch said the department’s intelligence analysts uncovered the international financial network and helped build a case alleging that more than $2 million was directed to Hamas.
“This is the kind of extraordinary counterterrorism work the NYPD carries out every day to disrupt threats before they reach New Yorkers,” she said, thanking law enforcement partners for helping dismantle the alleged network.