Italian authorities recently dealt a substantial blow to the Hamas financial network in the country. On Dec. 27, Italian police arrested seven individuals and issued international arrest orders for two others suspected of funneling millions to Hamas and its affiliated associations.

One of the arrested individuals was Mohammad Hannoun, a U.S.-sanctioned Ramallah native who has operated in Italy and has been on the radar of authorities since the early 1990s. The investigation expanded through cooperation with Dutch and other European authorities and was supported by Israeli intelligence.

The arrest of Hannoun and his Italian-based cell represents just one node within a broader, interconnected network of Hamas-affiliated financiers and advocacy organizations spanning Europe. Hannoun has been described as having contacts in the Netherlands, Austria, France and Britain.