Outer Banks Times

In preparation for a congressional hearing on terror financing scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, the House Ways and Means Committee is targeting a select number of charities that lawmakers express concerns may have connections with Hamas. This action comes in response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, which resulted in the death of over 1,400 people in the Jewish state.

It's important to start by highlighting an issue raised by members of Congress. Members of Congress have raised concerns about groups with ties to terrorism supporting Gaza since October 7. They express support for federal investigations, prompted by Washington Examiner reports on pro-Palestinian activist hubs endorsing and meeting with terrorists, according to an article by Washington Examiner. Several organizations leading recent U.S. demonstrations against Israel, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, ANSWER, and Al-Awda, have "dark money" funding structures and are affiliated with foundations holding tax-exempt status under the IRS. House Ways and Means Republicans are specifically considering oversight of the Zakat Foundation of America, an Illinois-based charity with past ties to the Islamic Charitable Society. The latter, based in the West Bank, received funds from the Holy Land Foundation, a now-closed charity shut down by the U.S. government in 2001 due to its support for Hamas; later sanctioned according to FBI-obtained bank records.

Switching gears slightly, it's also worth noting what federal investigators are saying about this matter. Bureau of Investigation is cautioning the public about criminals engaging in fraudulent solicitation of humanitarian donations amid the Israel-Hamas conflict according to a report by FBI. The FBI has received complaints indicating that legitimate email addresses belonging to individuals based in Israel have been hacked or potentially spoofed for the purpose of soliciting donations. Charity fraud is notably prevalent during periods of heightened conflict, such as war, natural disasters, or epidemics. Criminals exploit these situations to target individuals seeking to support humanitarian efforts. This type of fraud, commonly referred to as "disaster fraud," can manifest in various forms. Perpetrators may falsely claim association with established charities or present themselves as creators of new charities linked to ongoing conflicts.

Lastly, let's look at the perspective of a Republican lawmaker on this issue. Republican lawmaker Greg Murphy is urging a federal investigation into whether Americans contributing money to pro-Palestinian charities might unknowingly be funding Hamas according to an article by Fox News. "Millions of dollars from American citizens given in good faith to assist people are actually funding these terrorist organizations," stated Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., in an interview with Fox News Digital. Murphy wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, seeking details on any plans to ensure that charitable donations from Americans do not end up supporting Hamas and similar groups. He emphasized the need for the Treasury Department to take action, especially in light of Hamas' recent attack on the Israeli population. Murphy expressed concern that social media could be exploited to amplify alleged charity groups channeling funds to Hamas. "With the rise of social media, we have seen countless charitable organizations use these platforms to raise millions of dollars in donations intended to help Palestinian civilians," Murphy remarked.