Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Nine people who are accused of raising more than $8 million in Italy to help fund Hamas have been arrested by Italian authorities.

ROME: Italian prosecutors said on Saturday (Dec 27) they had arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through charities based in Italy, in an operation coordinated by anti-mafia and anti-terrorism units.The suspects are accused of "belonging to and having financed"

Italian authorities arrest nine for allegedly funding Hamas through charities, uncovering millions raised for the militant group.

Italy arrested nine people linked to three charities that allegedly funneled approximately $8.2 million to the Hamas terrorist organization.

Among those arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, prosecutors said.

Italian authorities arrested nine people linked to three charitable organizations on suspicion of raising millions of euros in funds for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, anti-terrorism prosecutors said in a statement Saturday. The suspects are accused of sending about 7 million euros ($8.2 million) to “associations based in Gaza, the Palestinian territories, or Israel, owned, controlled, or linked to Hamas,” the statement said. Among those arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, prosecutors said, describing him as the “head of the Italian cell of the Hamas organization.”