Russia Probes Embezzlement of Humanitarian Funds Raised for Gaza Strip
Russia's Investigative Committee is probing the embezzlement of humanitarian funds raised for Gaza. Suspects include Palestinian refugees with Russian citizenship, notably Iyad Issa Abu Zaher, an associate of senior Hamas leadership.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has launched an inquiry into the suspected embezzlement of humanitarian funds raised in Russia for residents of the Gaza Strip. Among the suspects identified in Russian media reports are Palestinian refugees who received Russian citizenship, including an individual who has previously identified himself as an aide to a senior Hamas official.
The investigation creates a highly embarrassing situation for those presenting themselves as leaders of humanitarian efforts for Gaza. The central suspicion is that millions of rubles raised under the guise of humanitarian aid were diverted for personal use and other unauthorized purposes. According to Russian media reports, online donation campaigns generated over 10 million rubles monthly.
Suspects and Hamas Connections
According to Russian publications, the individuals under investigation include Baraa al-Jamari, Mohammed Gabin, and Ismail Shafiq, who reside in Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino-Balkaria region, as well as Iyad Issa Abu Zaher, who lives in Ingushetia.
Abu Zaher's name is well known to observers of Hamas activities in Russia. In previous Russian publications, he presented himself as an assistant to Mousa Abu Marzook, the deputy head of the Hamas political bureau. Simultaneously, Abu Zaher cultivated a humanitarian image, presenting himself as a physician, the director-general of the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, and the former head of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
Abu Zaher was evacuated from the Gaza Strip to Russia in February 2024, with Israel's consent, as part of a group of Gazan doctors holding Russian citizenship. Following his evacuation, Abu Zaher frequently appeared in Russian media outlets to spread propaganda against Israel and the IDF, accusing them of war crimes. These media appearances fueled antisemitic sentiments among Russia's Muslim population and significantly boosted fundraising campaigns "for the children of Gaza."
Expensive Real Estate and Unemployed Status
According to allegations, several of the suspects do not hold regular jobs yet have managed to purchase expensive real estate in Russia. While high living standards do not constitute definitive proof of embezzlement, the acquisition of luxury assets by individuals who arrived in Russia presenting themselves as "destitute refugees" fleeing destruction in Gaza has intensified the scrutiny of investigators.
Further raising suspicions is the involvement of the Russian charitable foundation "Rusar." In December 2025, the foundation transferred donations intended for Gaza residents to Abu Zaher, who confirmed receipt. He later claimed the funds reached the Gaza Strip and were used to purchase blankets. This transaction is a key focus of the investigation, as it establishes Abu Zaher as a direct link in the transfer of funds from Russia to Gaza.
"Rusar" was established in 2014 to support Russian policy objectives in Bashar al-Assad's Syria but has since expanded its operations. The foundation is known for the extreme anti-Israel tone of its publications, its opposition to Zionism, and its open support for terrorist organizations fighting Israel, as well as the Iranian regime. Its website previously featured a report on an event marking the anniversary of the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, attended by Abu Zaher, who was introduced as the "official representative of Hamas in Russia."
Citizenship Verification
Alongside the financial probe, Russian law enforcement agencies are reviewing how several of the involved individuals obtained Russian citizenship.
Abu Zaher acquired Russian citizenship in the late 1990s while studying medicine in Russia. While several thousand Palestinians in Russia obtained citizenship through long-term residency or marriage, hundreds of other Gazans who arrived in the Russian North Caucasus as "refugees" after the outbreak of the war in October 2023 were granted Russian citizenship under an expedited procedure.
