January 11, 2026
Just weeks ago, on 27th December 2025, Italian investigators unveiled a network of so-called humanitarian charities that have been financially supporting the Islamic jihad organization Hamas.
The investigators, from the Italian anti-mafia and antiterrorism prosecution, disclosed [1] how the organization “ASSOCIAZIONE BENEFICA DI SOLIDARIETÀ COL POPOLO PALESTINESE - A.B.S.P.P.”, based in Genoa and Milan, collected money from sponsors and the public to then be transferred directly to operatives of Hamas. Hamas is an organization known for its Islamic jihad activity (including the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel) and which has been designated a terrorist organization in multiple countries including the US, the UK, and all EU countries.
The press release states that more than 71% of the money secured (8 million Euros) was meant to go to directly finance Hamas via an elaborate network of people and organizations that was used to funnel the funds. They have all now been linked directly to the parent organization and have been shown to be under direct control of Hamas.
This is a great success on the part of the investigators, who have been able to follow the trail of money flowing from these organizations to finance violent as well as non-violent jihad.
The following lines are important to take into the equation to get the full picture with the aim of preventing such malicious activities in the future and ensure national security:
Islamic political activity like this follows Islamic doctrine—and why it is important
As a proof of connection between the civil institutions and Hamas, the prosecutors mention Khaled Meshal, former head of the Hamas Political Bureau, who made instructive statements just three days after the 7 October 2023 jihadi attack in Israel: "Gaza is asking for your help: aid, money, whatever you have; anyone who can make a donation, know that this is the moment of truth. This is jihad with money, and it is like the jihad of those who sacrifice their lives. Make a donation for Gaza, its resistance, and its heroes." The press release also mentions that some of the intercepted conversations referring specifically to subject of jihad.
Is there any support in the primary Islamic doctrine (the Koran – the words of Allah; the Sira – Mohammed’s biography, and the Hadith – Mohammed’s traditions) for Mr. Khaled’s statement? And if yes, why does it matter, and why is it important for the current prosecution, as well as investigation and prevention of future cases?
Jihad is very much part of Islamic doctrine. 31% of Islamic doctrine is about jihad. Mohammed, the perfect example according to Islam, was himself a highly successful jihadi. Here are few examples from the Koran:
Koran 9:20
“Those who have believed, emigrated, and strived in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah. It is they who will triumph.”
Koran 4:95
“Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who have a (disabling) hurt, are not on an equality with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives. Allah hath conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary […]”
Koran 8:60
“Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.”
Koran 9:88
“But the messenger and those who believe with him strive with their wealth and their lives. Such are they for whom are the good things. Such are they who are the successful.”
Koran 49:15
“The (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere.”
Koran 9:41
“Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! That is best for you if ye but knew.”
The jihad of money is also very present in Islamic doctrine exactly in the way Khaled Meshal mentioned. Supporting jihad financially is like participating in jihad as the reward is also paradise:
Hadith Bukhari 2841
The Prophet said, "Whoever spends two things in Allah's Cause, will be called by all the gate-keepers of Paradise who will be saying, 'O so-and-so! Come here.' " Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Messenger! Such persons will never be destroyed." The Prophet said, "I hope you will be one of them."
Islamic doctrine also demands that Muslims pay zakat (one of the five pillars of Islam). It is often translated as “charity” or “alms”. This could be very misleading as non-Islamic society understands the above-mentioned words in a very different way. In reality, zakat is an obligatory payment that can be used to fund jihad.
The authority on how to use zakat comes directly from Koran 9:60:
“The alms [zakat] are only for the poor (1) and the needy (2), and those who collect them (3), and those whose hearts are to be reconciled (4), and to free the captives (5) and the debtors (6), and for the cause of Allah [jihad] (7), and (for) the wayfarer (8); a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise.”
In case of any doubt, one of the most authoritative classical manuals of Sharia explains what the seventh category means – click here to see it for yourself.
Category 4 is also interesting: “those whose hearts are to be reconciled”. This category is often used as a justification of giving money to impactful non-Muslims to make them supportive towards Islam and Islamic community.
So, why does matter what is written in some old Islamic sacred scriptures? Islamic doctrine is not historically descriptive; Islamic doctrine it is eternally prescriptive. Those are the guidelines on how to practice Islam.
Sending money as well as committing acts of violent jihad – by Hamas or any other entity – is not a twisted, extreme, incorrect interpretation of Islamic teachings. It is the doctrinal mainstream, and, according to Islamic doctrine, fully ethical and moral.
It means that every single Islamic organization is obliged to follow the same Islamic principles as A.B.S.P.P. They must adhere to the same primary Islamic doctrine found in the Koran, Sira, and Hadith. They only differ in the extent to which they fulfill those instructions, but the “manual” is the same.
Here are two reports written on jihad:
a) Violent and non-violent jihad:
https://www.cspii.org/methodology/research-reports/jihad/
b) Extensive report on violent jihad:
https://www.cspii.org/methodology/research-reports/violent-jihad/
Islamic political influence and power is constantly expanding in all areas and countries
According to the press release, the following activities were carried out with contribution of Hamas-connected charitable organizations: “training activities for young people for future leadership roles within HAMAS, activities carried out in the student sector in the student military camp (Command Training Institute), education on the status of martyrs and prisoners, and the symposium on Jihad and the organization's holy warriors.”
Further, investigators found that there are suspected contacts who hold similar roles in the Netherlands, Austria, France, and England. Communications demonstrate the existence of extensive, internationally organized networks of individuals/institutions engaged in fundraising, purportedly for charitable purposes, but actually in support of Islamic jihad.
Islamic doctrine declares its ultimate political vision – a global Islamic dominion. Here is one of many quotes on this:
Hadith Sahih Muslim 21b
“I have been commanded to fight against people, till they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the messenger (from the Lord) and in all that I have brought. And when they do it, their blood and riches are guaranteed protection on my behalf except where it is justified by law, and their affairs rest with Allah.”
Conclusions
- Jihad has a very clear basis in Islamic doctrine, and Islamic political power continues to expand. The work of the investigators on this case helps to protect national security, but we must understand the roots to deal with the cause and prevent future malicious events from happening.
- The case of A.B.S.P.P. is just an indication of a global problem of Islamic organizational infrastructure which adheres to the doctrine, demanding submission to Mohammed and Allah. This submission is to be achieved by non-violent as well as violent means collectively called jihad.
- Integration of the doctrinal motivation leading to the financial jihad (see the whole article above) into the prosecutor’s evidence could open a wider understanding, not just in Italy, of this harmful phenomenon. This could lead to the prevention of similar cases in the future on an international scale. It will also make it possible to widen the scope for investigators, to look where they have not looked before, and to newly consider things they had perhaps not considered dangerous at first.
Sources
[1] Original document of the press release: https://www.agenziagiornalisticaopinione.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/comunicasto-stampa-12650.pdf