Istanbul
Washington: The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control today turned its sights on Filistin Vakfi, a Türkiye-based charity nestled in Istanbul’s Haseki Sultan Neighbourhood. This organisation, also known as “Turk Brother Ltd..,” stands accused of channelling funds to Hamas’s military wing under the guise of humanitarian aid. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to dismantle a sprawling network of sham charities financing terrorism, with sanctions targeting five individuals and five organisations across the globe, including those tied to both Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Filistin Vakfi, established in 2016, has been thrust into the spotlight for its role in raising money for Hamas’s violent campaigns, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attack. Its president, Zeki Abdullah Ibrahim Ararawi, a Jordanian national born in 1961, orchestrated these fundraising efforts, exploiting Türkiye’s position as a hub for Hamas’s clandestine financial operations. The charity’s activities capitalised on public sympathy for Palestinian causes, diverting donations to fuel terrorism rather than alleviate suffering. Ararawi now faces sanctions for his direct ties to Hamas, with Filistin Vakfi designated for acting under his direction.
The Treasury’s action extends far beyond Türkiye, ensnaring a web of fraudulent charities that have long abused the nonprofit sector. In Gaza, the Al Weam Charitable Society operates under Hamas’s control, seamlessly integrated into its military wing. Muhammad Sami Muhammad Abu Marei, a Palestinian born in 1985 and the charity’s chairman, has facilitated fundraising for Hamas, employing its members throughout the organisation. International donors, unaware of Al Weam’s ties to terrorism, have unwittingly funded its projects, believing their contributions supported humanitarian work.
In Algeria, the El Baraka Association for Charitable and Humanitarian Work, founded in 2015, has similarly betrayed its donors’ trust. Its president, Ahmed Brahimi, born in 1970, ensured that funds raised for humanitarian causes were siphoned off to Hamas, including donations from well-meaning contributors who thought they were aiding Palestinian civilians. Across Europe, the Netherlands-based Israa Charitable Foundation, established in 2001, operates as part of the Union of Good, a Hamas-created network designated by the U.S. in 2008 for transferring funds to the terrorist group. Israa’s representatives, Amin Ghazi Abu Rashed, born in 1967, and Israa Abou Rashed, born in 1998, both Dutch nationals, have raised millions for Hamas through sham charities, cloaking their activities in the veneer of legitimate aid.
In Italy, the recently formed Associazione Benefica La Cupola d’Oro, set up in March 2024 by Mohammad Hannoun, a previously sanctioned Hamas supporter, has been used to evade restrictions and funnel money to Hamas’s military wing. Hannoun, designated by the Treasury on October 7, 2024, promoted the charity to unsuspecting donors, exploiting their generosity. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, founded in 1992, purports to advocate for Palestinian prisoners but maintains deep ties to the PFLP, a U.S.-designated terrorist organisation since 1997. In 2022, PFLP operative Khaled Barakat, sanctioned alongside the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in October 2024, coordinated with the PFLP to channel funds to Addameer and arrange meetings with Samidoun.
These sanctions, enacted under Executive Order 13224, freeze all U.S.-based assets of the designated individuals and entities, barring any transactions with U.S. persons. Violators face civil or criminal penalties, and foreign financial institutions engaging with these parties risk secondary sanctions, including restrictions on U.S. correspondent accounts. The Treasury’s 2024 National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment underscores the persistent threat posed by sham charities, which terrorist groups like Hamas and the PFLP establish to generate, store, and move funds illicitly. By co-opting nonprofits, these organisations obscure their ties, evading sanctions and exploiting the international community’s goodwill.
Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender emphasised the urgency of the crackdown, stating that the Treasury remains committed to dismantling terrorist financing networks that exploit Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The coordinated effort with allies, including joint designations with Australia and the United Kingdom in January 2024 and further actions with the UK throughout 2023 and 2024, reflects a global resolve to choke off Hamas’s financial lifelines. As Hamas continues to hold hostages, including two American citizens, following the October 7, 2023, attack, the U.S. aims to curb the group’s ability to fund violence against Israeli and Palestinian communities.
The Treasury’s actions shine a light on the broader challenge of preventing terrorist groups from hijacking legitimate charitable causes. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has issued alerts to counter Hamas’s financing schemes, while OFAC maintains that sanctions are designed to drive behavioural change, not merely to punish. Guidance is available for those seeking removal from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, signalling an openness to reform. For now, the sanctions serve as a stark warning to those who would disguise terror funding as charity, with Filistin Vakfi’s exposure marking a critical blow to Hamas’s operations in Türkiye and beyond.
– global bihari bureau
