Hamas external European operations

Hamas has been accused of external European operations including attempted attacks and financial activities. The European Union considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization and has instituted sanctions and arrested several people for allegedly participating in these operations. Hamas does not typically operate outside of Israel and Palestine. According to Hamas, the organization has never used violence outside of Israel and Palestine and does not intend to do so.

Background

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist organization that originated from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt,^[1][2] and is also backed by Iran,^[3][4][5] has been designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union since 2003.^[6][7] In January 2024, the EU further established a sanctions regime targeting individuals and entities who support, fund, or enable Hamas in any capacity, freezing assets, and banning transactions.^[6][7] Hamas does not typically operate outside of Israel and Palestine.^[8][9] Hamas has denied ever using violence outside of Israel and Palestine and has stated it is not a threat to European countries.^[10][11][12] Since the October 7 attacks, some people have been arrested in European countries on suspicion of planning operations for Hamas.^[13]

Suspected areas of operations

Austria

On 6 November 2025, Austria's domestic intelligence agency reported that they discovered a weapons cache of 5 handguns and 10 magazines in Vienna that they allege is linked to Hamas and was intended to be used in an attack on Israeli or Jewish targets. A British man was arrested on suspicion of "having close ties to the weapons cache" and will be extradited to Germany. This is part of a wider international investigation of a "global terrorist organization linked to Hamas" suspected of smuggling the weapons into Austria, in order to execute terrorist attacks in Europe.^[14][9]

Denmark

In December 2023, Danish authorities in cooperation with German and Dutch officials, arrested three people who were accused of plotting acts of terror against Jewish targets in Europe.^[15][16] According to the prosecutor, the case "has links to Hamas".^[15]

Danish intelligence reported that Hamas members in the country worked with Danish Loyal to Familia (LtF) criminal group. One main suspect, a Danish member of LTF, escaped to Lebanon and reportedly met Hamas officials there. He was later extradited to Denmark and charged in May 2025 with terrorism crimes connecting gang violence and Hamas activities.^[13][17][18]

In a 2024 report the Danish Security and Intelligence Service warned that the Israel–Hamas war could bring "new actors" to Danish terrorism cases, specifically mentioning Hamas. Charges presented in May 2025 linked Danish suspects to a wider European weapons network run by Hamas' foreign operations team in Lebanon. This network was alleged to have stored weapons and planned attacks in several European cities, including Berlin and Copenhagen.^[13][18]

Germany

In December 2023, four people were arrested in Germany on suspicion of being members of Hamas. Later they were charged of seeking weapon cashes for attacking Jewish institutions.^[19] In October 2024, German authorities charged them for setting up weapon depots across Europe, one depot dating back to 2019.^[20][21]

On 1 October 2025, three suspected Hamas members were arrested in Berlin, for planning attack on Jewish sites in Germany. According to the prosecutors the three were seeking to buy weapons and in the raid, among the weapons found was an AK-47 and ammunition. It is unclear whether they are members of Hamas or sympathizers.^[8][22] Hamas has denied having any connection to the suspects.^[23]

Turkey

See also: Turkish support for Hamas

Hamas has been operating in Turkey since 2011, as Turkey never designated the organization as a terrorist organization. Instead, Erdoğan's Turkey regards it as a resistance group. Former Hamas leaders like Ismail Haniyeh and Saleh al-Arouri used to operate freely from Turkey.^[24][25][26] These conditions enabled Hamas to establish financial and logistical infrastructure in Turkey to launder money, recruit operatives, and plan attacks on Israeli targets. Reports of the Israeli intelligence reveal multiple cases linking Hamas's Turkish operations to plots targeting Israeli officials and assets, including the October 7 attacks.^[13][27][28]

Belgium

According to Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt, Hamas-linked NGO's in Belgium raise money for Palestinian causes and lobby in support of Hamas. However, he stated that they do not fund or engage in terrorism. As of 2025, Belgium has yet to take major actions against these organizations or their members, and they have not been convicted of any crime.^[29][30]

Italy

In 2021 an Italian bank closed the accounts of a non-governmental organization suspected of having ties to Hamas. The investigation was based on suspicion of money laundering unregistered transfers to blacklisted individuals in Palestine.^[31]

The Global Sumud Flotilla

According to documents presented by the Israeli government, Hamas was allegedly behind the Global Sumud Flotilla. Documents which show letters dating back to 2021 signed by then Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh to the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), that was established in Istanbul 2017. The letters endorse the organization to organize such a flotilla. Such claims were denied by both those on flotilla and those affiliated with it.^[32] Hamas has also denied any connection to the flotilla. The Israeli documents also claim operatives affiliated with Hamas were allegedly involved in the flotilla's funding and operation, including the CEO of a Spanish maritime company that owns many of the flotilla's ships.^[33][34][32]

See also

• Hamas
• Palestinian war crimes