Hamas operatives have been operating in Europe under the guise of journalists and charity workers to raise funds to support the terror organization, the Ad Kan group has revealed.
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Some organizations run by these individuals have been outlawed in various countries around the world, including Israel and the United States, and in some cases, they were uncovered raising donations to carry out serious terror attacks, including suicide attacks.
Ad Kan, which was founded by IDF officers and graduates of intelligence units, works to uncover such illegal funding efforts, among other things.
Video: Gazans take to streets in rare protest against Hamas. Credit: Israel Hayom
Data collected by its undercover agents included email correspondence and photos of senior Hamas operatives in Europe, including the terror group's former leader Khaled Mashaal.
The Ad Kan investigation revealed the methods Hamas uses to work with anti-Israel and far Left organizations in Europe to undermine Israel.
According to Ad Kan CEO Gilad Ach, the group realized that while Israel was fighting Hamas militarily, it was not battling its illegal fundraising efforts abroad.
According to Ad Kan, for years, Hamas has been working with activists in the Netherlands, Britain, Denmark, and other countries carrying out activities that strengthen and support the terror group. The activists have founded many supposedly human rights organizations over the years, including ones that seem legitimate.
Last month, Ad Kan's undercover research led to the arrest of Amin Abu Rashid, the alleged senior Hamas official in the Netherlands, who raised millions in illegal funds for human rights organizations that were reportedly sent directly to the terror group.
According to the reports, Abu Rashid's daughter, who managed the funds, was also arrested and 750,000 euros ($826,000) in cash were seized on suspicion that they were intended for Hamas.
Abu Rashid led at least three Palestinian "human rights organizations" through which the funds were collected, seemingly as charity.
One such "charity" organization was designated by the US as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in 2003, which means that all transactions with the organization are illegal.
Another organization suspected of terror involvement is Asra, which claims to gather funds to support orphans in Gaza.
The email correspondence obtained by Israel Hayom showed how Abu Rashid became a popular figure among boycott divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement activists, who even consult him on how to best hurt Israel.
In one such email, the activist – a BDS leader in the Netherlands, who is Jewish – consults Abu Rashid about hiring an anti-Israeli Palestinian from the village of Deir al-Balah. In another one, she invited Abu Rashid to a meeting of the board of directors of a BDS group she runs.
In 2017, the two were part of a Palestinian campaign that bluntly attacked Israel and Zionism on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
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The investigation also mentioned a broadcaster on an Arabic-language TV channel operating in London and allegedly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, who expressed support for the 2001 Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing, in which 16 Israelis were killed, including 7 children and a pregnant woman, and 130 were injured.
That individual too headed several "charity" organizations affiliated with Hamas.
Other such fundraising offices were reported in Germany, France, and other countries of the European Union.
Ach said the development was "particularly disturbing. It is important that the public and the government know about this, and start mobilizing. We must not ignore this event that hurts Israel severely."
