Italian investigations reveal Hamas ties to left-wing parties

A series of investigations published by the Rome-based daily Il Tempo has uncovered links between Hamas and senior members of Italy’s left-wing parties. The reports specifically identified ongoing communication between Hamas member Mohammed Hannoun and Italian politicians regarding the promotion of anti-Israel policies amid the Gaza war.

Long a popular destination for Israelis with traditionally warm bilateral ties, Italy has seen public opinion shift sharply since the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023, with propaganda from Hamas and its far-left allies fueling nationwide protests and a surge in antisemitic incidents in the country.

Hannoun, considered a prominent member of Hamas, resides in the northern Italian city of Genoa and, together with his associates, including Sulaiman Hijazi, has reportedly cultivated close ties with Italy's left-wing Democratic Party (PD) and the more radical left-wing Five Star Movement (M5S). While these two parties have strong policy positions against Israeli actions in Gaza – even advocating for sanctions – they remain part of Italy’s political mainstream and at least publicly reject antisemitic extremism

The reports also revealed that Hannoun has established several so-called “humanitarian” organizations that have been used as a cover for raising funds and donations to support Hamas terrorism. One such group is the "Charitable Association of Solidarity with the Palestinian People" (ABSPP), which has allegedly been linked to Union of Good, Hamas funding networks and the Muslim Brotherhood..

Photographs uncovered in the investigation also showed Hannoun meeting senior Hamas official Khaled Mashal and embracing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was later killed in the war.

Even before Oct. 7, 2023, Israel had pressed Italy to act against Hannoun due to his central role in financing Hamas. In December 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on him, formally designating him a Hamas operative and veteran fundraiser.

After Oct. 7, financial restrictions tightened further. The Italian postal service closed Hannoun’s accounts, while Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal blocked transactions linked to him. Despite these measures, he has sought to bypass these restrictions by raising funds for Hamas through newly created shell companies.

According to Il Tempo, the daily reports published over the past week reveal not only Hannoun's political connections but also links to Islamists associated with the Islamic Cultural Center of Milan

Hijazi, a Palestinian Hamas supporter who has lived in Italy for 20 years, appeared on stage in the Italian Parliament alongside Francesca Albanese, the former UN envoy to the Palestinian Territories and a staunch critic of Israel. In April, the U.S. accused Albanese of virulent antisemitism, opposing the renewal of her role. She later faced U.S. sanctions after casting doubt on Hamas rapes during the Oct. 7 attacks and was criticized for sharing a platform with Hijazi, described as Hannoun’s senior partner.

While the investigation highlights Hamas' influence among political parties in Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a supporter of Israel, has repeatedly emphasized that while she supports the idea of a Palestinian state in principle, she opposes recognizing one before it is actually established.

In a July interview with La Repubblica, Meloni warned that such recognition could be “counterproductive,” creating the illusion of a solution without resolving the underlying conflict – aligning with statements made by former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month.

Her stance runs counter to moves by France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, which have pushed for unilateral recognition at the UN General Assembly in New York City in September.

Last month, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani clearly affirmed that Italy is not ready to recognize a Palestinian state. Addressing his center-right Forza Italia (FI) party council, he reaffirmed support for a two-state solution but emphasized that recognition must be mutual, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

“We are interested in peace, not in the victory of one side over the other,” Tajani said, and has been critical of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

He highlighted Italy’s humanitarian role, noting, “We are the country that has taken in the largest number of refugees from Gaza.”