Paris Charges Five Individuals with Suspected Funding of Hamas via Humanitarian Associations

Authorities in France have charged five individuals on suspicion of funding the Hamas movement through humanitarian associations, as announced by the "National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office" on Saturday.

The prosecution suspects that the mentioned associations collected funds to provide them to the movement under the guise of humanitarian operations.

The "National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office" stated to "AFP" that investigators from the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), who are handling the case, arrested the five defendants on Tuesday.

Authorities opened a judicial investigation on Friday on charges of "funding a terrorist organization, which in this case is Hamas," an act that could constitute breach of trust and money laundering related to a terrorist organization if proven.

Three of the five suspects were placed under judicial supervision, at the request of the "National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office."

The prosecution said it requested the pre-trial detention of the heads of the two associations, and one of them was placed in pre-trial detention pending a postponed confrontation session he had requested.

His lawyer, Lucie Simon, told the French agency that "my client participated in efforts to collect donations exclusively for humanitarian purposes, and his imprisonment would be scandalous."

The prosecution said the head of the second association was placed under judicial supervision.

The headquarters of the two associations or the amount of funds involved in the case were not disclosed. Lawyers for the other suspects refused to comment to AFP.

The investigation began on April 21 amid suspicions related to "terrorist financing and participation in a criminal terrorist plot aimed at committing crimes against persons."