The US Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a sweeping set of indictments and criminal complaints last Friday, detailing a coordinated international operation to dismantle a multi-year Hamas terror finance network.
Centered around Saleem Alzaq, a battalion deputy in Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades and propaganda photographer, the crackdown targeted operatives who allegedly aided Alzaq in funneling over $1.7 million to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid.
This involved domestic arrests in Louisiana and Florida and coordinated raids by French authorities that resulted in the arrest of Alzaq’s associates Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid, and Nordine Barika by the French General Directorate for Internal Security.
Louisiana brothers, Florida resident accused of contributing to Hamas financing network
As part of the US enforcement actions, Louisiana brothers Abdel and Omar Adhami were arrested and charged following a joint investigation by the FBI and the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The brothers own local beauty-supply stores: 4 Her Beauty Supply in Hammond and J-Lo Supply in Slidell. They face multiple felony counts, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, wire fraud, and money laundering, for allegedly routing more than $105,000 to the Hamas-linked fundraising apparatus between February 2021 and September 2026.
According to unsealed court documents and DOJ announcements, the operation heavily relied on coordination with Alzaq, whom prosecutors identified as a key fundraiser. Alzaq allegedly used social media platforms like Snapchat and Telegram to disseminate pro-Hamas propaganda and solicit donations under the guise of humanitarian aid.
The transatlantic crackdown also encompassed additional domestic enforcement steps. Alongside the actions against the Louisiana brothers, federal authorities arrested Tampa-area beauty-supply owner Raed Yousef for his involvement in the financing network.
Investigators detailed how the Adhami brothers attempted to conceal the funds’ true destination. Following the October 7 attacks, Abdel instructed his brother Omar via WhatsApp to avoid mentioning specifics and to use the code word “bread” when discussing financial transfers.
In a message sent shortly after the war broke out, Abdel told Omar that he had dedicated a portion of everything he owned to “the true men,” quoting the saying, “He who equips a fighter is as if he has taken part in the fighting himself.”
In intercepted voice notes forwarded by Abdel, Alzaq confirmed the coding system, instructing them, “Brother, don’t mention specifics! You can say portion for ‘bread,’ and I will understand what you mean.” Alzaq noted that, while a portion of collected funds went toward general civilian aid, another designated portion went to “the bread people,” referring to active Hamas fighters, including individuals stationed at Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital.
The scheme unraveled after Alzaq connected with an undercover NYPD officer posing as a New York-based donor named “Hussain.” Alzaq provided the officer with Abdel’s contact information. During subsequent communications, Abdel allegedly offered to launder the undercover officer’s cash donations by running them through his store’s card reader as fake retail transactions before wiring the proceeds overseas.
Federal law enforcement gained additional insight into the operation in September 2025, when US Customs and Border Protection intercepted Abdel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, recovering an iPhone containing more than 300,000 WhatsApp messages.
FBI vows to continue efforts to disrupt Hamas funding
Senior DOJ officials emphasized that the coordinated investigation underscores how international terrorist networks attempt to exploit American businesses and digital payment platforms, masking illicit transfers behind purported humanitarian relief.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that anyone “who finances or assists terrorist organizations responsible for the deaths of American citizens should expect to be prosecuted by the Department of Justice.”
“For decades, members of Hamas have raised funding to carry out brutal terrorist attacks. Under the leadership of President [Donald] Trump, the Department of Justice will continue pursuing terrorists who kill Americans, dismantling terrorist finance networks, and delivering justice for the families of victims,” Blanche said.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated: “The FBI will never forget the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023 – and we will never stop our efforts to cut off funding to Hamas terrorists.”
“These subjects allegedly engaged in a conspiracy that extended beyond national borders to funnel money to Hamas and fuel violent attacks, using cryptocurrency, to try to hide their criminal activity,” Patel said.
Patel added, “Today’s announcement shows the abilities of this FBI and our inter-agency partners to follow the money and shut down resources going to terrorists under the guise of charitable giving – with 4,000 foreign terrorist organization-related disruptions and stopping 1,100 alleged terrorist actors here at home and around the world since last year.”
Goldie Katz contributed to this report.