Charity Branding, Hamas Ties, and a San Diego Defendant

Hacker in hoodie with Russian flag background and code.

A federal complaint says a California “charity” raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Gaza relief but secretly funneled cash toward Hamas and personal bills instead.

Story Snapshot

Prosecutors say San Diego resident Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi raised about $600,000 through online “charity” drives, then sent money to Hamas and used some for himself.
The Justice Department charged him with terrorism, sanctions evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements, carrying a potential decades-long prison term.
Officials say he worked with the Hamas-linked group Gaza Now and tried to move over $380,000 into cryptocurrency to reach Hamas.
The case highlights how “humanitarian” branding and online platforms can hide terror financing and prey on the compassion of American donors.

Federal Case: Charity Branding, Hamas Ties, and a San Diego Defendant

The United States Department of Justice says 38‑year‑old San Diego resident Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi spent years building an online image as a Gaza relief organizer, while secretly using that trust to raise money for Hamas and himself.^[2] Prosecutors say he used social media, crowdfunding sites, and a New York‑registered nonprofit called Ikram – The Arab Charity Foundation Inc. to collect donations from people in the United States and overseas, all marketed as humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.^[2]

According to the government’s complaint, those charity drives between December 2023 and February 2024 alone pulled in about $600,000.^[2] Investigators say about $116,000 went to a Hamas member, and that Sabassi tried to convert roughly $382,000 into cryptocurrency to send to Hamas through a group called Gaza Now, which the Treasury Department has already sanctioned as a Hamas fundraising arm.^[2] Officials also allege some of the money went to personal costs like rent and credit card payments.^[1]

Charges, Penalties, and the Presumption of Innocence

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have hit Sabassi with five serious counts: conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to violate sanctions law, conspiring to commit wire fraud, conspiring to commit money laundering, and making false statements.^[2] Each of the first four charges carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and the false statement count carries up to five, meaning he could face as much as 85 years if convicted on all counts consecutively.^[2]

Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation leaders are framing the case as part of a wider effort to choke off Hamas money flows disguised as charity work.^[2]^[4] They say Sabassi “exploited” the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in Israel to stir outrage and sympathy, then used that emotional moment to fuel his fundraising pitches.^[3] At the same time, no court has yet found him guilty, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence while the evidence is tested in front of a judge and, if it goes that far, a jury.^[1]

How Sham Charities Exploit Compassion and Online Platforms

For many conservatives, this case hits a nerve because it weaponizes basic American decency. People who thought they were helping injured children and hungry families in Gaza may instead have helped a terror group that hates the West and targets civilians.^[1]^[2] The Treasury Department has warned for years that Hamas and its allies build “sham charities” that look like relief groups on the outside while moving cash to their military wing behind the scenes.^[8]

Department of Justice
Press Release
San Diego Resident Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Hamas
Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of a five-count complaint charging Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, of San Diego,…

— Hiro's gallery (@HiroGallery) June 18, 2026

Officials say Hamas may have pulled in up to $10 million a month from these donation networks by early 2024, often by using crises and emotional images to drive online giving.^[8] That pattern is now familiar: create a charity brand, show heartbreaking war photos, collect money on popular platforms, then push funds through shadowy channels, including cryptocurrency and foreign middlemen.^[7]^[8] The Sabassi complaint alleges he followed this exact template with Gaza Now and his own “Ikram” foundation.^[2]^[4]

Why This Matters for National Security, Donors, and the Trump-Era Crackdown

For a country still dealing with threats at home and abroad, terror financing on American soil is not a small paperwork crime. Every dollar that reaches Hamas helps it buy weapons, train fighters, and plan attacks that destabilize the Middle East and endanger allies like Israel, as well as American interests.^[2]^[8] When that money is raised inside the United States under a fake charity brand, it also erodes trust in real faith‑based and community charities that do honest work.

Under President Trump’s second term, federal agencies are again under pressure to use every legal tool against terror networks and those who help them from inside our borders. Treasury sanctions on outfits like Gaza Now, along with high‑profile prosecutions like this one, send a clear message: use American freedom and generosity to fund terror, and you risk spending the rest of your life in prison.^[2]^[7]^[8] At the same time, conservatives will watch closely to ensure these tools stay aimed at real threats, not used to harass legitimate charities or silence political speech.

Protecting Yourself: Questions Patriots Should Ask Before Donating

This case is also a warning to every church, small group, and family that gives online. Before clicking “donate,” ask basic questions: Is this charity registered in the United States? Can you find clear financial reports? Do they publicly distance themselves from any group named on the government’s terror list? Are they transparent about how money moves into and out of high‑risk places like Gaza?^[7]^[8] If the answers are vague or emotional but light on details, that is a red flag.

For conservatives who believe in personal responsibility and private charity over big government spending, this kind of due diligence matters. Taking a few minutes to verify a group can keep your hard‑earned money from ending up in the hands of terrorists or corrupt middlemen. It also helps defend the reputation of the many honest charities that live out real compassion without political games or hidden agendas. In the coming trial, Americans will see whether the government can prove its case against Sabassi. Regardless of that outcome, the lesson is clear: evil actors are eager to hijack your generosity, and it is up to all of us to stay alert.