Rome, Dec. 28 (LaPresse) – “It is a very important result. Attention is certainly high, and this operation could reveal interesting scenarios. Not only that, it also shows that our investigative and intelligence apparatus is solid, competent, and highly professional. The money flows were tracked, and it was a worthwhile choice. Terrorism is also fought in this way, by removing resources and operational capabilities.” This is what Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said in an interview with Il Giornale following the operation that led to the arrest of nine people, including Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Association of Palestinians in Italy, accused of financing Hamas.
“The presumption of innocence always applies,” the minister emphasized. “That said, we are indeed talking about an investigation based on concrete, documentary, and financial evidence. Not on abstract hypotheses or generic suspicions.”
The investigation, Piantedosi explained, started “from monitoring financial flows. Donations that appeared legitimate but showed anomalies. From there, a complex network was reconstructed, also thanks to information exchanges with authorities from European Union countries, including the Netherlands.” The minister clarified that funding for Hamas occurred both before and after October 7, “and this is a fact that could indicate continuity, not an emotional reaction to the events.”
Finally, he revealed that he received compliments from “some” opposition members. “When defending national security, there are no — and should be no — party flags,” Piantedosi concluded.