Turkish national charged by US for funding Hamas using sham humanitarian charity

Turkish national Mohammad Yousef Hasna has been charged by the US Department of Justice with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas and other terrorism financing offenses. Hasna, also known as “Orhan Korkmaz,” was arrested in the UK, where he allegedly served as the global director of a registered charity. The DOJ complaint states that Hasna provided financing and commodities to Hamas through a “Sham Charity,” working closely with senior Hamas terrorist Ghazi Hamad since at least 2023. He allegedly arranged cash deliveries, procured supplies for Gaza, and transported materials into the Strip, distributing them to warehouses controlled by the charity and Hamas while concealing their true destination.

FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Jarod Brown stated that Hasna “knew the resources were going to that group rather than to needy non-combatants."

Following Hamas's October 7 attack, the Sham Charity's disclosed gross income nearly doubled, from $41.8 million in 2023 to approximately $81.56 million in 2024. Hasna faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge if convicted.