The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Saleem Alzaq, as well as the arrests of Omar Adhami, Abdel Adhami, and Raed Yousef, for their involvement in paying, soliciting and collecting funds for Hamas. The case centers on an alleged Hamas financing network that collected donations from individuals around the world, including in the United States.
In a coordinated law enforcement operation in France, three of Alzaq’s associates, Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid, and Nordine Barika, were arrested by the French General Directorate for Internal Security.
Allegations Against Saleem Alzaq
According to the Alzaq indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York, Alzaq, 45, of Gaza, is a Hamas member in the Gaza Strip and a battalion deputy in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing responsible for planning and executing terrorist attacks. He serves in the Photography Department of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Shujaiyya Brigade Media Office, a Hamas propaganda office, where he has photographed Hamas events and distributed the photographs and descriptions to others involved in the Hamas propaganda apparatus.
Since at least about January 2020, Alzaq has allegedly operated an international Hamas fundraising network. He promotes the fundraising through social media campaigns purportedly providing humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, while the money is funneled to Hamas. Since January 2020, Alzaq has collected more than $1.7 million through purported charitable campaigns. His associates in France, Barika, Amel Oualid, and others allegedly assisted in collecting and transferring the money.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said, “Our intelligence analysts uncovered this international finance network and built the case that exposed more than $2 million being funneled to Hamas.”
Louisiana and Florida Defendants
Abdel Adhami, 35, and Omar Adhami, 33, both of Covington, Louisiana, allegedly donated funds to Alzaq’s network. Beginning in approximately February 2021, and continuing through approximately September 2026, Abdel Adhami allegedly contributed approximately $94,000 and Omar Adhami allegedly contributed approximately $11,000 to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, knowing that the organization engaged in terrorist activities. They allegedly attempted to conceal their contributions through wire transfers and the use of intermediaries.
Yousef, 56, a resident of Lutz, Florida, allegedly provided almost $50,000 to the network.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald for the Southern District of New York said, “As alleged, Saleem Alzaq was the center of a Hamas financing network that operated around the globe, soliciting more than a million dollars from individual donors including here in the United States.”
Charges and Maximum Penalties
Alzaq is charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization; conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; and conspiring to commit money laundering. Each carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He is also charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Omar Adhami and Abdel Adhami are each charged with providing material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, conspiracy to provide material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiring to commit money laundering. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Yousef is charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and five counts of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He also faces one count of providing funds, goods, and services to a specially designated terrorist and five counts of attempting to do so, each carrying a maximum of 20 years. He is further charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and five counts of money laundering, each carrying a maximum of 20 years, and one count of passport fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison.
Officials Respond
Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “Anyone who finances or assists terrorist organizations responsible for the deaths of American citizens should expect to be prosecuted by the Department of Justice.”
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida said, “The diligence and cooperation exhibited by our domestic and international law enforcement partners during this investigation demonstrates our collective resolve to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and prosecute those who engage in these illegal activities.”
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana said, “Omar Adhami and Abdel Adhami are accused of providing Alzaq with resources intended to fund Hamas’ relentless reign of terror.”
Investigating and Prosecuting Agencies
The Alzaq case is being investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz, Ben Arad, Sarah L. Kushner, Juliana N. Murray, and Keith Savino for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Rob MacDonald and A.J. Dixon of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance.
The Adhami case is being investigated by the FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy for the Eastern District of Louisiana is prosecuting the case. The Yousef case is being investigated by the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Schmidt and Michael Buchanan for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.