Statement by President Meloni

I wish to express my appreciation and satisfaction for the particularly complex and important operation, which has led to the arrest of nine individuals accused of providing Hamas with over EUR 7 million in financing through a number of so-called charitable associations. These include the president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy, Mohammad Mahmoud Ahmad Hannoun, described by investigators as a "member of the foreign branch of the terrorist organisation Hamas" and "head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organisation". Both personally and on behalf of the entire Government, I offer sincerest thanks to all those who made this operation possible - the Genoa Public Prosecutor's Office, the National Anti-Mafia and Counterterrorism Directorate, the Italian State Police and the Italian Finance Police, as well as the intelligence support provided by AISE [External Intelligence and Security Agency].

[Courtesy translation]