Alleged Hamas Fundraiser Caught in Court Documents
An individual purportedly linked to Hamas is accused of raising close to $2 million for the group by presenting it as humanitarian aid for sick children in Gaza. This person, Saleem Alzaq, is said to have flaunted his connections in New York, according to newly released court documents.
Alzaq, who is reported to be involved with Hamas’ media operations, allegedly told an undercover NYPD officer via Snapchat in 2025 that he had numerous friends in New York and other states, including Ohio. “My friends are in New York, so many of them; they are in New York and in the state of Ohio and all over the United States,” he reportedly said when asked how contributions could be made.
Further on, he mentioned, “Let me see my friends in New York, and they are all from Palestine, from the West Bank and from Jerusalem, and they are American, all of them; they are young people and they send me all the time.” These claims are detailed in federal documents.
At 45 years old, Alzaq, believed to be still at large in Gaza, was indicted in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday. He faces charges for allegedly channeling $1.7 million to Hamas, asserting that these funds would be used for humanitarian purposes.
The court filings don’t clarify how Hamas utilized the funds, nor do they indicate whether the money played a role in any terrorist activities.
Alzaq’s discussions with the undercover officer, known as “Hussain,” emerged in a separate but related federal complaint that was unsealed earlier in Louisiana. Alongside Alzaq, two siblings, Abdel and Omar Adhami, were arrested for allegedly transferring money to him. Reports suggest that Abdel sent over $83,000 to Hamas from 2023 to 2026, while his brother is accused of contributing $6,000.
Additionally, a man from Florida, Raed Yousef, faces charges for allegedly sending nearly $50,000 to Hamas. Meanwhile, three associates of Alzaq—Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid, and Nordine Barika—were captured in France by security forces, as noted by U.S. officials. So far, no one based in New York has been charged.
Manhattan’s U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald emphasized in a statement that the office, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting those who finance Hamas, regardless of their location.
The Adhami brothers reportedly used coded language to evade detection, such as referring to funds for Hamas fighters as “bread.” Alzaq allegedly stated in January 2024, “This is the message I wanted to deliver to the person who donated the bread,” suggesting that some had indeed received the “bread,” with a kind of gratitude for it expressed as well.
Posting pro-Hamas content on social media was common for Alzaq, and he supposedly advised supporters against using phrases like “Free Palestine” or “Long Live Hamas” in their donations to avoid any issues with his PayPal account.
In the indictment, federal prosecutors argued that the slogan “Free Palestine” signifies Hamas’ goal of dismantling Israel and establishing a religious state in its place.
As for legal representation, inquiries directed at lawyers for the Adhami brothers went unanswered, and there’s currently no information on whether any attorneys are representing the others involved in this alleged scheme.
