Overview
- Held at Genoa’s Marassi prison, Mohammad Hannoun delivered a brief statement to the investigating judge denying any direct or indirect financing of Hamas after invoking his right not to answer questions.
- Investigators allege more than €7 million was transferred since 2001, with a surge after October 2023 and a large share to the group’s military wing, pointing to wiretaps and a “Contabilità Milano” file listing payments to Gaza contact Osama Alisawi.
- Police report about €2 million in cash seized in recent searches, bundles labeled by Italian city, and describe Milan as a collection hub and the creation of new associations to bypass blocked accounts.
- Judicial steps continue with remote hearings for other arrestees, international rogatory requests for Alisawi and Mohammed Ismail Saleh Abdu, and plans to move Hannoun to an AS2 high‑security prison section.
- The case is stirring political fallout with solidarity protests, criticism and defenses from national figures, calls for MP Stefania Ascari to step down from the Antimafia commission, and a government briefing to Parliament set for January 14.