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A new federal indictment alleges that Mohammad Yousef Hasna, who directed Gaza humanitarian coordination for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation from 2009 to 2017, had been a member of Hamas’s military wing since 2003.
The August 25 indictment alleges that Hasna was recruited to Hamas in July 2003 and has since held several positions in the al-Qassam Brigades, including platoon commander and brigade trainer in the Signal Corps. An earlier criminal complaint states that Hasna served from approximately 2009 until May 2017 as director of the Gaza Coordination Office in the OIC’s Humanitarian Affairs Department. His LinkedIn profile has also identified him with the OIC position.
The two federal filings indicate that Hasna’s years overseeing the OIC’s Gaza humanitarian coordination operation overlapped with his alleged membership in Hamas’s military wing. Prosecutors say his military rank since at least July 2019 has been deputy company leader in the al-Qassam Brigades.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation describes itself as the “second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations” and has 57 member states. It also describes itself as “the collective voice of the Muslim world.”
The indictment significantly expands the case against Hasna, who was initially charged in July with allegedly using a purported humanitarian organization to funnel money and supplies to Hamas. Prosecutors do not allege that Hasna diverted OIC resources to Hamas or used his OIC position as part of that scheme.
The Al-Khair Connection
Federal prosecutors separately accuse Hasna of using a purported humanitarian organization, referred to in federal filings as the “Sham Charity,” to provide money and supplies to Hamas.
The indictment does not expressly identify the organization as Al-Khair Foundation. However, Hasna identified himself on LinkedIn as global director of the UK-based Al-Khair Foundation, and reporting on the federal case has connected the organization to the allegations.
Prosecutors allege that Hasna used his position with the organization described in the filings as the Sham Charity to raise funds and coordinate deliveries of supplies to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
He allegedly worked directly with Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s Political Bureau and former deputy foreign minister in the Hamas-run Gaza government, to identify recipients and coordinate deliveries of cash and supplies.
Prosecutors Describe Efforts to Conceal Hamas Control
Federal prosecutors describe an extensive system through which Hasna allegedly coordinated the procurement, transportation, storage and distribution of humanitarian supplies.
According to the complaint, Hasna arranged for goods to be purchased for import into Gaza, transported by truck from Egypt and elsewhere, stored in warehouses and distributed according to lists supplied by Hamad.
Prosecutors allege that Hasna also took steps to conceal Hamas’s role in the operation.
In one alleged method, Hasna misrepresented shipments as being delivered to Gaza’s Ministry of Social Development when they were instead sent to warehouses under his control.
In other instances, prosecutors say supplies were first delivered to the ministry before being redistributed to recipients selected by Hamas.
Hasna also allegedly used photographs and videos to document deliveries for donors while avoiding signs and other identifying information that could reveal which warehouses or entities actually controlled the supplies.
The indictment alleges that the operation was intended to provide Hamas with money, goods and services while concealing the terrorist organization’s involvement from donors and others participating in the humanitarian supply chain.
British Authorities Open Investigation
On August 5, the UK Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into Al-Khair Foundation and issued an order restricting the charity’s transactions to Hasna, his organization or Gaza without the Commission’s permission.
Britain’s Department for Education has also sought information concerning four schools associated with the foundation, three in London and one in Oldbury, near Birmingham.
Hasna was arrested in Britain on July 31 at the request of U.S. authorities and was ordered detained pending extradition proceedings.
The August 25 indictment charges Hasna with four federal offenses: conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, provision and attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to finance terrorism and financing terrorism.