The US Department of Justice has charged the global director of a UK-registered humanitarian organization with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, alleging he used the charity as a front to funnel money, supplies, and other resources directly to the terrorist organization.
Mohammad Yousef Hasna, 45, of Istanbul, Turkey, also known as "Orhan Korkmaz" and "Abu al-Baraa," was arrested Friday in the United Kingdom on a three-count criminal complaint accusing him of conspiring to provide material support to Hamas and violating US terrorism financing laws.
According to federal prosecutors, Hasna served as the global director of what court documents describe as a "sham charity" that presented itself as a humanitarian organization while allegedly coordinating closely with Hamas' senior leadership to finance and supply the terror group operating in Gaza.
"The money that flows from sham charities like the one described in the complaint fuels Hamas's terrorist activities, including the atrocities the group committed on October 7," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in a statement. "Hamas cannot function without injections of money through its illicit financial networks."
Federal authorities allege Hasna worked directly with Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas Politburo member and the Hamas-controlled Minister of Social Development in Gaza. Prosecutors say the pair coordinated the movement of cash, food, fuel, and other supplies into Gaza while disguising the shipments as humanitarian aid.
According to the complaint, Hasna allegedly arranged cash deliveries to Hamas officials, procured supplies, organized truck shipments from Egypt into Gaza, directed deliveries to warehouses controlled by either the charity or Hamas, and distributed aid according to recipient lists provided by Hamas leadership.
Investigators also allege the operation took deliberate steps to conceal where aid was ultimately stored and distributed. Court documents claim shipments were falsely documented as being delivered to Gaza's Ministry of Social Development, an agency controlled by Hamas, or routed through multiple warehouses before reaching their intended recipients. Prosecutors further allege photographs and videos of aid deliveries were intentionally staged to avoid revealing warehouse locations or Hamas control.
The charges come amid heightened scrutiny of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza following Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, during which more than 2,000 Hamas terrorists crossed into southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 hostages. Hamas remains designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a designation it has held since 1997.
Federal investigators noted that after the October 7 attack, the charity's reported income nearly doubled, increasing from approximately $41.8 million during fiscal year 2023 to roughly $81.6 million in fiscal year 2024. The organization later reported spending approximately $91 million on charitable activities during the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025.
US Attorney Jamie McDonald said Hasna "abused his position as the global director of a purported humanitarian organization to raise money and provide funds and supplies to Hamas," adding that the case demonstrates the Justice Department's commitment to dismantling "Hamas's illicit global financing networks and the sham charities that support terrorist organizations under the lie of philanthropy."
FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Jarod Brown said investigators allege Hasna knowingly directed resources to Hamas rather than civilians in need. "The defendant coordinated his actions closely with a senior leader of Hamas and knew the resources were going to that group rather than to needy non-combatants," Brown said.
Hasna faces three federal charges: conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, conspiracy to finance terrorism, and financing terrorism. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Mohammad Yousef Hasna, 45, of Istanbul, Turkey, also known as "Orhan Korkmaz" and "Abu al-Baraa," was arrested Friday in the United Kingdom on a three-count criminal complaint accusing him of conspiring to provide material support to Hamas and violating US terrorism financing laws.
According to federal prosecutors, Hasna served as the global director of what court documents describe as a "sham charity" that presented itself as a humanitarian organization while allegedly coordinating closely with Hamas' senior leadership to finance and supply the terror group operating in Gaza.
"The money that flows from sham charities like the one described in the complaint fuels Hamas's terrorist activities, including the atrocities the group committed on October 7," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in a statement. "Hamas cannot function without injections of money through its illicit financial networks."
Federal authorities allege Hasna worked directly with Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas Politburo member and the Hamas-controlled Minister of Social Development in Gaza. Prosecutors say the pair coordinated the movement of cash, food, fuel, and other supplies into Gaza while disguising the shipments as humanitarian aid.
According to the complaint, Hasna allegedly arranged cash deliveries to Hamas officials, procured supplies, organized truck shipments from Egypt into Gaza, directed deliveries to warehouses controlled by either the charity or Hamas, and distributed aid according to recipient lists provided by Hamas leadership.
Investigators also allege the operation took deliberate steps to conceal where aid was ultimately stored and distributed. Court documents claim shipments were falsely documented as being delivered to Gaza's Ministry of Social Development, an agency controlled by Hamas, or routed through multiple warehouses before reaching their intended recipients. Prosecutors further allege photographs and videos of aid deliveries were intentionally staged to avoid revealing warehouse locations or Hamas control.
The charges come amid heightened scrutiny of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza following Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, during which more than 2,000 Hamas terrorists crossed into southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 hostages. Hamas remains designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a designation it has held since 1997.
Federal investigators noted that after the October 7 attack, the charity's reported income nearly doubled, increasing from approximately $41.8 million during fiscal year 2023 to roughly $81.6 million in fiscal year 2024. The organization later reported spending approximately $91 million on charitable activities during the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025.
US Attorney Jamie McDonald said Hasna "abused his position as the global director of a purported humanitarian organization to raise money and provide funds and supplies to Hamas," adding that the case demonstrates the Justice Department's commitment to dismantling "Hamas's illicit global financing networks and the sham charities that support terrorist organizations under the lie of philanthropy."
FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Jarod Brown said investigators allege Hasna knowingly directed resources to Hamas rather than civilians in need. "The defendant coordinated his actions closely with a senior leader of Hamas and knew the resources were going to that group rather than to needy non-combatants," Brown said.
Hasna faces three federal charges: conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, conspiracy to finance terrorism, and financing terrorism. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
