French authorities arrested three individuals and placed them under formal investigation following a U.S. sanctions warning that millions of dollars were diverted to Hamas under the cover of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Justice alerted France regarding the financial activities of specific nonprofit organizations operating in the Gironde and Loire regions.
French Nonprofits Accused of Diverting Funds to Hamas
France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine revealed that two brothers linked to the “Baraka” association, based in Saint-André-de-Cubzac in Gironde, were targeted by a judicial inquiry from the Parquet national antiterroriste. Simultaneously, France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes reported that the 39-year-old president of the “Ensemble C Mieux” association, located in Saint-Étienne in the Loire region, was placed under formal investigation in Paris for financing a terrorist enterprise. Five individuals were initially placed in police custody on Tuesday, September 29, during a preliminary investigation targeting terrorist financing and terrorist criminal conspiracy.
Following the opening of a judicial inquiry, three suspects faced formal charges on Saturday, October 3. The charges include financing a terrorist enterprise specifically identified as Hamas, organized gang breach of trust, and the laundering of breach of trust in connection with a terrorist enterprise. According to OFAC statements, the collected funds reached Hamas through a member of its armed wing named Saleem al-Zaq. The investigation covers a six-year period from 2020 to 2026, during which Faouzi B. from Baraka, Amel O. from Ensemble C Mieux, and al-Zaq allegedly collected over two million dollars for Hamas, with 1.5 million of that total gathered after the October 7, 2023, attack against Israel.
Did You Know? The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC and the Department of Justice specifically communicated a blacklist to Paris, identifying individuals who allegedly funneled donations meant for Gaza civilians directly into the hands of Hamas operatives.
Legal Proceedings and Freezing of U.S. Assets
Faouzi B., aged 35, was provisionally incarcerated while awaiting a delayed contradictory debate that he requested. Meanwhile, the Pnat requested provisional detention for Amel O., but the liberty and detention judge decided she would remain free under judicial supervision. Her attorney stated that she is engaged in humanitarian work supporting civilian victims of a genocide in Gaza and maintains no links to Hamas. Me Lucie Simon, the lawyer representing Faouzi B., expressed surprise at the media attention decided by OFAC in an inflammable political context.
Beyond the ongoing French criminal investigations, the accused individuals face direct American sanctions. These measures enforce the freezing of any assets they might hold within the United States and require American corporations, such as Mastercard, to sever all financial relationships with them.
Suspects collected millions in funds for Hamas
When were the suspects initially detained by authorities?
Five individuals, including the two brothers from Gironde and the 39-year-old association president, were placed in police custody on Tuesday, September 29.
What specific amounts of money are involved in the allegations?
According to OFAC, the suspects collected over two million dollars for Hamas over a six-year period from 2020 to 2026, which includes 1.5 million collected after the October 7, 2023, attack against Israel.
What legal status do the primary suspects currently hold?
Faouzi B. was provisionally incarcerated pending a requested debate, while Amel O. remains free under judicial supervision after a judge rejected the prosecution’s request for her detention.