Federal filings say two Louisiana brothers built a social-media money pipe to Hamas, and they did it by courting U.S. donors who thought they were helping the poor.
Story Snapshot
- Federal complaints detail social-media fundraising tied to Hamas, with arrests in Louisiana.
- Investigators tracked PayPal and Western Union transfers exceeding $83,000 to Gaza-linked contacts.
- Posts cited Hamas imagery and charity appeals for “the poor and orphans in Gaza”.
- FBI and New York Police Department worked the case together across states.
Federal Case Built From Social Media To Money Transfers
Federal court records unsealed after the arrests lay out a direct playbook: public posts on Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp drove donors to private channels, where money then moved to Gaza-linked intermediaries associated with Hamas, according to the complaints described by reporters. The timeline stretches from late 2023 through mid-2025. Agents say the brothers did not just give money. They asked others to give, using open platforms to seed the pitch before steering followers to less visible lanes.
The narrative centers on Abdel Adhami’s transfers. Reports say he sent more than $83,000 through PayPal alone, split between two accounts, and additional funds by Western Union. NBC describes a pattern of almost $35,000 to one PayPal account and $46,600 to another, plus about $2,000 via Western Union, reflecting a sustained drive rather than a one-off gift. The money trail anchors the case. Digital footprints match the social push, forming the spine prosecutors lean on.
How The Pitch Was Packaged For Donors
Prosecutors say posts mixed Hamas propaganda with calls to help “the poor and orphans in Gaza,” a blend that tends to lower donor guardrails while signaling allegiance to true believers. The complaint descriptions include a shift from public stories to encrypted chats and Telegram channels after viewers engaged. That funnel matches what counterterror experts warn about today: broad reach for recruitment, narrow lanes for cash, and a quick handoff to handlers who can move funds fast and quietly.
Reports point to a named Gaza-based intermediary, Saleem Alzaq. Outlets describe him as a Hamas member or fundraiser who promoted Hamas while taking in money pitched as charity. Citing a known node strengthens the government’s chain. It also undercuts the “just charity” defense common in these cases. Courts have long held that money is fungible; funds that reach a designated group, even for services, can still count as unlawful support under federal law.
What Investigators Say Reveals The Wider Network
A federal search warrant described by local reporting says agents traced an encrypted group that claimed a link to Hamas and pointed users to a site with rotating cryptocurrency addresses. The warrant narrative also mentions thousands of online contacts engaging about donations, suggesting scale beyond one duo and a few wallets. The joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York Police Department ties digital leads to real-world arrests, adding cross-checks that matter in court.
https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/2106071714371346836
American conservatives see a simple guardrail here: stop terror at the wallet. The law exists to choke off funding upstream, before bombs or rockets appear. Prosecutors do not need a confession if they can show a steady stream of money, propaganda cues, and a recipient tied to a designated group. That standard reflects common sense. You cannot run a terror machine without cash. You also cannot hide it behind charity slogans and expect a free pass.
The Charges, The Caveat, And The Stakes
NBC reports Abdel Adhami faces counts that include providing material support to a foreign terrorist group, wire fraud, and money laundering, based on a complaint filed September 11 in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The brothers were arrested in Louisiana after the court first sealed the case, then unsealed records following the takedown. As with any case at this stage, the charges are allegations, not proof of guilt. But the described evidence links speech, solicitations, and cash to alleged Hamas channels.
This fits a larger post-October 7 pattern. Fundraising now blends social platforms, payment apps, and crypto to skirt old controls. Congress and federal agencies have flagged that mix as a growing channel for Hamas and its allies. Recent briefings and reports show how small-dollar donors, swayed by graphic war content, can end up in pipelines that route through layers and land in terror hands. The fix begins with hard identity checks, transparent ledgers, and real penalties when “charity” masks violence.
Sources:
nypost.com, nbcnews.com, wwltv.com, southernjewishlife.substack.com, nola.com, justice.gov, jns.org, fraser.stlouisfed.org, i24news.tv
