US Targets Hamas Funding Network Masked As Turkish Aid Groups | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 00:29 IST

The US Treasury Secretary noted that by preying on the sympathies of unwitting donors, Hamas is effectively depriving innocent Palestinians of the very aid they require

In a significant move to choke the financial lifelines of Hamas, the United States Department of the Treasury has designated three Türkiye-based charities as “sham humanitarian groups". CNN News18 has learnt that these organisations—Ghazi Destek (GDD), Hayat Yolu, and Palestinian White Hands—stand accused of operating as a covert funding network for Hamas’s military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

The sanctions, announced on March 12, highlight a sophisticated international strategy where the nonprofit sector is exploited to sustain terrorist infrastructure under the guise of emergency relief.

Since the escalation of the West Asia tensions in October 2023, Hamas has increasingly relied on a multi-layered global network to generate external revenue. These sanctioned entities in Türkiye serve as the primary collectors, soliciting donations from sympathetic individuals and communities worldwide.

The strategy is simple yet insidious: the groups launch high-visibility online appeals and social media campaigns focused on the desperate humanitarian needs in Gaza. By emphasising projects like medical aid, food distribution, and support for displaced families, they successfully mask their true intent. Funds raised via wire transfers and online platforms are not reaching the civilians they were intended for; instead, they are being diverted to sustain fighters and operational infrastructure.

The Treasury Department’s designation is backed by a wealth of evidence, including internal Hamas records captured during recent operations. These documents reveal that the charities are far from independent.

For instance, Ghazi Destek Derneği (GDD) has been found collaborating directly with the sanctioned Waed Society in Gaza. While GDD publicises cash support for displaced people in Lebanon and Gaza, the captured records show it has materially supported individual Hamas members and funded construction projects specifically designed to benefit militant operations.

Similarly, Hayat Yolu functions as a vital financial hub, generating revenue specifically for the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Perhaps most alarmingly, Palestinian White Hands is reported to be integrated into the military wing’s security apparatus, acting less like a charity and more like an operational extension of Hamas’s security structure.

The US Treasury Secretary noted that by preying on the sympathies of unwitting donors, Hamas is effectively depriving innocent Palestinians of the very aid they require. This exploitation of the nonprofit sector not only funds weapons and terrorism but also erodes the international community’s trust in legitimate humanitarian organisations.

As the “Board of Peace" and international observers begin to plan for long-term stabilisation in the region, the disruption of these “sham" networks is seen as a critical step. By exposing these covert links, the US aims to protect the integrity of the humanitarian sector and ensure that future aid reaches the Gazan civilians truly in need, rather than the militant bureaucracy that continues to prolong the conflict.

News world US Targets Hamas Funding Network Masked As Turkish Aid Groups | Exclusive Details

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