Trial to begin for alleged Hamas financier who admitted 'my job is to bring Israel down'

A Dutch court is expected to rule on Wednesday in the terrorism financing trial of alleged Hamas financier Amin Abu Rashid, who was previously caught on undercover video saying his “job” was to “bring Israel down.”

The 58-year-old Abu Rashid is accused of transferring €8 million ($9.3 million) to Hamas-linked networks between 2010 and 2023 through the Rotterdam-based Israa Charitable Foundation Netherlands.

The undercover footage was recorded during a 2022-2023 infiltration operation conducted by the Israeli investigative NGO Ad Kan, which later provided evidence to Dutch authorities as part of the broader investigation into Hamas financing networks in Europe.

"My job is to bring Israel down," Abu Rashid stated in a video filmed by the Ad Kan undercover agent. "That's my job," he emphasized.

The undercover investigator reportedly spent roughly a year infiltrating radical anti-Israel organizations, including the International Solidarity Movement, in order to document Abu Rashid’s activities and statements.

"Ad Kan has been working for years to strike at the leaders of global antisemitism," Ad Kan founder Gilad Ach said.

"Our long reach will get to anyone who harms Israel; we will ensure the downfall of Hamas in Europe and bring its senior officials to justice. Even if the State of Israel does not act in this arena, we will not stop!" he pledged.

According to investigators, Abu Rashid allegedly misled financial institutions about his ties to Hamas.

The Palestinian Community in the Netherlands (PGNL) responded on social media by claiming the case against Abu Rashid was based on evidence provided by the "Zionist lobby" in an effort to "silence critical voices and solidarity with Palestine."

"This is not just about one person, but about the right to speak out against injustice, occupation, and oppression. The criminalization of solidarity must never become normalized," PGNL wrote on Instagram. The organization also called on supporters to attend a demonstration against the trial.

Abu Rashid has long been accused by Israeli authorities of serving as a senior Hamas operative in Europe. Last June, the United States imposed sanctions on Abu Rashid and his daughter over their alleged role in transferring funds to the terrorist organization.

Dutch police arrested Abu Rashid and his daughter in 2023, while prosecutors are now seeking a three-year prison sentence against him.

The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service (PPS) argued that Abu Rashid played “a leading and decisive role in the collection and the ultimate destination of the funds” and evaded sanctions against Hamas by “using intermediary structures to channel money to Hamas."

In addition to his alleged financial ties to Hamas, Abu Rashid has also reportedly maintained close ties with elements of the Gaza flotilla movement.

In 2010, he participated in the MV Mavi Marmara flotilla, during which 10 Turkish anti-Israel activists were killed after attacking Israeli naval forces attempting to prevent the ship from reaching the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has relied on an extensive international financial network to sustain its rule in Gaza and finance attacks against Israel. The terrorist organization has so far refused to disarm under the terms of the American-brokered 2025 Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Earlier this month, Israel eliminated top Hamas military commander Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, who reportedly opposed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan and efforts to disarm Hamas.

Al-Haddad was also reportedly the last senior Hamas commander involved in planning the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 people were kidnapped from southern Israeli communities.