In a letter to the U.S. Treasury Secretary, House Republican Mike Gallagher expressed his concern over a potential violation of anti-terrorism law by allowing money to be funneled from charities to Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S.
In his letter, Gallagher cited reports of pro-Palestinian charities, such as the Al-Quds and Al-Damir charities, which allegedly collect donations for relief of Palestinian suffering, but also funnel those funds to Hamas. Gallagher and other members of Congress have called on the Treasury to investigate and halt any potential non-compliance with anti-terrorism law.
The letter cites multiple reports that the two charities have been used as a conduit for transferring funds from Palestinian charitable organizations to Hamas. Furthermore, there is evidence that some of these charities have been complicit in the funneling of money to Hamas for its military operations. These activities violate the Patriot Act and violate U.S. sanctions against Hamas.
Gallagher has urged the Treasury to investigate and act swiftly to disrupt the flow of funds between Palestinian charities and Hamas. He stated that failure to do so could endanger the security of both U.S. citizens and those living in the region.
The letters comes as part of a broader effort by lawmakers to prevent groups affiliated with terrorist organization from exploiting charitable donations for their own gain. Previous legislation, such as the Donor Transparency Act, has sought to force charities to publicly disclose the details of their donation structure. Yet, these efforts have been inadequate in preventing illicit activities.
Given the danger posed by funds being funneled to Hamas and other terrorist organizations, it is imperative that the Treasury investigates any suspicious activity and ends this cashflow. As Gallagher states, it is crucial for the government to act quickly to protect U.S. citizens and those living in the region.
