Federal agents say two Louisiana brothers used social media to funnel donor cash to a Hamas-linked network, with help from New York City police tracking the trail.
Story Snapshot
- FBI and New York City police traced a fundraising pipeline that used Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
- Court records say Abdel Adhami sent more than $83,000 through PayPal, plus Western Union transfers.
- Prosecutors link the money path to a Gaza-based fundraiser named Saleem Alzaq.
- The case shows how online platforms and layered payments fuel modern terror finance.
What Investigators Allege Happened
Federal complaints unsealed after the arrests say brothers Omar and Abdel Adhami asked followers on Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp to donate for people in Gaza, while posting Hamas images and slogans. Investigators say the brothers then moved funds to contacts tied to a Gaza-based network. The case started under seal on September 11 in the Eastern District of Louisiana and led to arrests in Louisiana. The New York City Police Department worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the probe.
Prosecutors say the brothers did more than give money. They allegedly ran public appeals and steered people to private channels to organize transfers. Reported filings describe posts that asked for help for “the poor and orphans in Gaza,” while also pushing Hamas propaganda to build trust and attract donors. That blend of charity language and militant branding is a known tactic in past cases, where money paths and messages matter as much as labels on a flyer or a post.
The Money Trail Described in Court Records
Media reports citing the filings say Abdel Adhami sent more than $83,000 through PayPal across two accounts, plus additional Western Union transfers, between late 2023 and mid-2025. One report breaks down nearly $35,000 to one PayPal account and about $46,600 to another, with around $2,000 moved by Western Union. Numbers vary slightly by outlet, but all point to direct transfers by Abdel that prosecutors call part of a broader scheme.
Coverage identifies a key contact, Saleem Alzaq, as a Gaza-based fundraiser tied by prosecutors to Hamas activity. Outlets say the brothers routed money to Alzaq or through channels he promoted as charity work, which also carried Hamas themes. A separate report describes encrypted group chats and rotating cryptocurrency addresses used by a pro-Hamas circle to gather funds, showing how the pipeline can shift tools to avoid easy tracing.
Why This Case Matters Beyond One Arrest
The case highlights how online platforms turn small donations into large flows when thousands follow calls to give. After the October 7 war period, federal agencies warned that Hamas financing would rely on social media, quick-pay apps, and cryptocurrency rather than banks alone. The Department of Justice has long argued that money is fungible, so even funds raised under a charity banner can free up resources for a designated group’s violent aims.
Law and policy history shows these prosecutions often turn on proof of knowledge and intent, not just the movement of cash. Courts have upheld “material support” cases while also wrestling with where charity ends and support begins. Reporters note this matter comes from complaints and warrants, which launch charges but do not decide guilt. That legal process guardrail protects both security interests and civil liberties as evidence is tested in court.
Bipartisan Concerns Tied to the Bigger System
Americans across the spectrum see a system that struggles to keep them safe while also respecting rights. Many worry that elites and large platforms profit as digital pipelines help bad actors move money. People also see slow, uneven enforcement that lets schemes grow until they are too big to ignore. This case shows that local police and federal agents can still work together and follow the money in the online world when the mission is clear and the stakes are high.
Two Louisiana brothers have been charged in connection with an alleged $1.7 MILLION Hamas fundraising network disguised as humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Federal prosecutors say Abdel Adhami, 35, contributed roughly $94,000 and Omar Adhami, 33, contributed about $11,000 to the netwk pic.twitter.com/YRhr93cwLJ
— Benny Johnson (@BenJhnson_) October 2, 2026
For readers, two realities can be true at once. First, fundraising that reaches a designated group threatens public safety and must be stopped. Second, clear evidence and due process matter so charity claims cannot mask support for violence, and free speech is not chilled by fear. The courts will now sort the facts. The larger lesson is that modern finance demands modern oversight that is fast, focused, and transparent.
Sources:
nypost.com, nbcnews.com, wwltv.com, southernjewishlife.substack.com, justice.gov, jns.org, quinnemanuel.com
