French media reported that French prosecutors charged five people associated with humanitarian organizations with funneling a total of $47 million to Hamas through the supposed charities.

The unnamed suspects are linked to two foundations, the Humani’Terre and Soutien Humani’Terre associations. French authorities froze the funds of the organizations and people linked to them, including Khaled al-Shouli, a Jordanian-born lawyer.

Al-Shouli, representing alleged victims of Israeli actions in Gaza, joined a petition to the International Criminal Court to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reportedly as a direct result of this action, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials in May 2024.

Hamas media, namely the al-Quds network, reported that al-Shouli said that this action presented a way to resist the “occupation” and that it “justified all forms of the Palestinian resistance,” endorsing violence against Israeli civilians as a means to a political end.

While the suspects are under supervision, they are being investigated for the following charges:

• Funding a terrorist group
• Organized breach of trust
• Money laundering for a terrorist organization

The investigation began on Nov. 3, 2023, less than a month after the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, and focused on searching the offices and bank accounts associated with Humani’Terre and Soutien Humani’Terre, with authorities confiscating office equipment such as computer equipment and financial documents. Authorities have confiscated $47 million from the “charities.” Most of it was in bank accounts, but they recovered about $6 million in cash at the headquarters and various branches of Humani’Terre. As a result, the association halted the acceptance of contributions.