Mauritanians Continue To Donate Millions To Hamas Military Wing – With The Support Of President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Who Is Visiting The White House
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also reportedly set to meet with President Ghazouani. This meeting, which is to take place on the sidelines of the U.S.-Africa summit, is being brokered by the Trump administration, which is interested in expanding the Abraham Accords.[2]
Trump's meeting with the Mauritanian president took place despite the fact that this country fosters terrorism by granting political support and financial assistance to Hamas.[3]
As a matter of fact, Mauritania holds direct ties with Hamas, as exemplified by an official visit to Mauritania in 2021 by a Hamas delegation led by then-head of the movement's political bureau Isma'il Haniya, as well as many other visits by Hamas delegations and officials to Mauritanian in the recent years. Moreover, Hamas has an official representation in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, which raises funds for the movement's military wing.
This fundraising activity intensified after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which led to the Gaza war. Since the attack millions of dollars have been raised for Hamas in Mauritania. The funds – provided in local currency[4] – are presented as donations for the people of Gaza, but they are delivered directly to Hamas's representative in Mauritania, Muhammad Subhi Abu Saqer. This enables the movement to channel the money to military purposes rather than civilian ones. At a recent event organized by Hamas in Mauritania, Abu Saqer admitted that the funds raised by Mauritanians were used to purchase arms for Hamas' military wing, the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, saying that the Mauritanian aid was "present on the battlefield" and helped the movement to buy arms and excavate tunnels.
The donations for Hamas are collected by various tribes in Mauritania and by organizations with direct ties with the movement, such as the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People.
The Mauritanian Islamic Forum donates one billion ouguiyas ($25 million) to Hamas (Image: Facebook.com/ALMOUNTADA.MR, December 26, 2024)
This report reviews Hamas's continued fundraising efforts in Mauritania.
Hamas: Mauritanian President Ghazouani Is One Of Our "Partners In Victory"
As stated, Mauritania under President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani maintains direct ties with Hamas. For example, in June 2021 a Hamas delegation headed by then-head of the movement's political bureau, Ismail Haniya, made an official visit to the country and met with President Ghazouani. The delegation also included other senior Hamas officials, such as Moussa Abu Marzouq, Khalil Al-Haya, Izzat Al-Rishq, Taher Al-Nounou and Sami Abu Zuhri. The Mauritanian news agency reported that, during the meeting with President Ghazouani, the Hamas leadership praised him for "politically backing" the Mauritanian public in "expressing its solidarity with Jerusalem, Gaza, the resistance [i.e., Hamas] and the Palestinian people, including [by] launching a donation drive..."[5] Ghazouani, for his part, praised Hamas's "achievements" in "the Sword of Jerusalem campaign," referring to the round of fighting between Hamas and israel in May 2021.[6]
President Ghazouani meeting in 2021 with a Hamas delegation headed by the movement's leader at the time, Isma'il Haniya (Image: Ami.mr, June 21, 2021)
In fact, Mauritania has served for years as a convenient arena for Hamas activity. Hamas delegations led by Sami Abu Zuhri – a senior official of Hamas abroad who holds a Mauritanian passport – made frequent official visits to the country, met with high-ranking figures and participated in mass events. Beyond its ties with the movement and its praise for its activities, Mauritania also allows Hamas to maintain an official representation on its soil, which is responsible for raising vast sums of money for the movement's military wing. President Ghazouani, who supports Hamas and its activities, is held in great esteem by the movement, which credits him with the great success of the fundraising campaigns in the country. This was evident in an event held by the Hamas representation in Mauritania on March 12, 2025, attended by Hamas officials Sami Abu Zuhri and Osama Hamdan. The event was held to thank and praise the Mauritanian donors, and a banner behind the speakers' podium, captioned "Partners in Victory," featured an image of President Ghazouani.[7]
Banner at Hamas event in Nouakchott features a portrait of Mauritanian President Ghazouani and the caption "Partners in Victory" (Image: Facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566483612218, March 12, 2025)
Hamas Representative: The Mauritanian Fundraising Efforts Are A Form Of "Jihad"; This Money Has A Part In "Every Explosive Device, Every Bomb, Every Bullet And Every Tunnel" Used By Hamas
An event held by Hamas's representation in Mauritania several weeks before this, on February 8, 2025, was also intended to thank the Mauritanian people for their support of the "resistance." The event was attended by Hamas's representative in the country, Muhammad Abu Saqer, and by representatives of the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People, two organizations involved in fundraising for Hamas. At this event too, a banner was displayed featuring a photo of President Ghazouani alongside the words: "Thank you, Mauritania." Another banner glorified Hamas leaders killed in the war: Yahya Sinwar, Isma'il Haniya and Saleh Al-Arouri.
In his speech at the event, Abu Saqer noted that the donations to the movement were still coming. He quoted the spokesman of Hamas's military wing, Abu Obeida, as saying "Your money and your support have reached us and continue to reach us," and expressed gratitude for "the support and help in strengthening the military power of the Martyr Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades." Abu Saqer described the financial aid extended by Mauritanians to Hamas as a form of jihad, and stated that this money is "present on the battlefield" and facilitates military action and the excavation of tunnels. He said: "Your [fundraising] jihad was [evident] in every explosive device, every bomb, every bullet, every tunnel and every operation that killed the enemies of Allah."[8]
Muhammad Abu Saqer speaks at the February 8, 2025 Hamas event in Mauritania (Image: Facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566483612218, February 8, 2025)
Advertisement for the February 8, 2025 Hamas event in Mauritania (Image: Facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566483612218, February 7, 2025)
In his speech at the same event, Sheikhani Bibb, the secretary-general of the Mauritanian "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization , praised Hamas's October 7 terror attack and the movement's military wing, which he said had gladdened the Mauritanians by "reviving the spirit of jihad and sacrifice." He emphasized that the situation after the October 7 attack will not be the same as the situation before it, and added that these are the first steps toward the "liberation" of Palestine.[9]
Mauritanian Organizations And Tribes Raise Millions For Hamas
As noted, since the beginning of the Gaza war, tribes in Mauritania have raised millions of dollars for the Hamas movement. In the recent months these tribes have continued to transfer funds to Hamas's representative in the country, Muhammad Abu Saqer. For example, in January 2025, the Leghlal tribe presented him with a check for one billion ouguiyas ($25 million) as part of "an aid initiative for Gaza." This was the second installment of the donation, following an earlier instalment, of $5.5 million, made by the tribe in February 2024.[10]
The Leghlal tribe presents Hamas representative Abu Saqer with a check for one billion ouguiyas ($25 million) as part of an "aid initiative for Gaza" (Image: Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092742757051, January 11, 2025)
Also conspicuous in their fundraising efforts are the two aforementioned organizations, the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People. These organizations stress that the donations are intended for "supporting Gaza" and "supporting the Palestinian people," but in actual fact they collect funds for Hamas in cooperation with the Mauritanian tribes. The following are examples from the recent months:
The "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" Organization
In January 2025 the Ijman tribe presented this organization, headed by Sheikhani Bibb, with a check for 50 million ouguiyas ($1.25 million) "for supporting Gaza" and "aiding the Palestinian people."[11]
The Ijman tribe hands over 50 million ouguiyas ($1.25 million) to the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization as "aid for Gaza" (Image: Facebook.com/ribatte1, January 11, 2025)
That same month, the Tanadgha tribe raised $2.2 million "for the Palestinian people" via a Whatsapp group and delivered it to the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization.
The Tanadgha tribe donates $2.2 million "to the Palestinian people" in cooperation with the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization (Image: Facebook.com/ribatte1, January 8, 2025)
On February 24, 2025 this organization committed to rebuilding 100 housing units in the Gaza Strip, at a total cost of $400,000.[12]
The Mauritanian Islamic Forum
In November 2024 the Mauritanian Kunta tribe provided 20 million ouguiyas ($500,000) to the Hamas representative, in cooperation with the Mauritanian Islamic Forum, "for the benefit of the people of Gaza and as further aid for the resistance [i.e., Hamas' military wing]." The check bore the message "marking the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood."[13]
The donation provided by the Kunta tribe, in cooperation with the Mauritanian Islamic Forum, "for the benefit of the people of Gaza and as further aid for the resistance" (Image: Facebook.com/ALMOUNTADA.MR, November 2, 2024)
In October 2024, Hamas official Osama Hamdan visited Mauritania and attended a conference of the Mauritanian Islamic Forum. In his speech at the conference he praised the "official and popular efforts in Mauritania" to aid Gaza and its people.[14]
Ad by Mauritanian Islamic Forum calling to donate "to your brothers in northern Gaza" (Image: Facebook.com/ALMOUNTADA.MR, June 21, 2024)
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Since the attack millions of dollars have been raised for Hamas in Mauritania. The funds – provided in local currency[4] – are presented as donations for the people of Gaza, but they are delivered directly to Hamas's representative in Mauritania, Muhammad Subhi Abu Saqer. This enables the movement to channel the money to military purposes rather than civilian ones. At a recent event organized by Hamas in Mauritania, Abu Saqer admitted that the funds raised by Mauritanians were used to purchase arms for Hamas' military wing, the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, saying that the Mauritanian aid was "present on the battlefield" and helped the movement to buy arms and excavate tunnels. The donations for Hamas are collected by various tribes in Mauritania and by organizations with direct ties with the movement, such as the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People. The Mauritanian Islamic Forum donates one billion ouguiyas ($25 million) to Hamas (Image: December 26, 2024) This report reviews Hamas's continued fundraising efforts in Mauritania. Hamas: Mauritanian President Ghazouani Is One Of Our "Partners In Victory" As stated, Mauritania under President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani maintains direct ties with Hamas. For example, in June 2021 a Hamas delegation headed by then-head of the movement's political bureau, Ismail Haniya, made an official visit to the country and met with President Ghazouani. The delegation also included other senior Hamas officials, such as Moussa Abu Marzouq, Khalil Al-Haya, Izzat Al-Rishq, Taher Al-Nounou and Sami Abu Zuhri. The Mauritanian news agency reported that, during the meeting with President Ghazouani, the Hamas leadership praised him for "politically backing" the Mauritanian public in "expressing its solidarity with Jerusalem, Gaza, the resistance [i.e., Hamas] and the Palestinian people, including [by] launching a donation drive..."[5] Ghazouani, for his part, praised Hamas's "achievements" in "the Sword of Jerusalem campaign," referring to the round of fighting between Hamas and israel in May 2021.[6] President Ghazouani meeting in 2021 with a Hamas delegation headed by the movement's leader at the time, Isma'il Haniya (Image: June 21, 2021) In fact, Mauritania has served for years as a convenient arena for Hamas activity. Hamas delegations led by Sami Abu Zuhri – a senior official of Hamas abroad who holds a Mauritanian passport – made frequent official visits to the country, met with high-ranking figures and participated in mass events. Beyond its ties with the movement and its praise for its activities, Mauritania also allows Hamas to maintain an official representation on its soil, which is responsible for raising vast sums of money for the movement's military wing. President Ghazouani, who supports Hamas and its activities, is held in great esteem by the movement, which credits him with the great success of the fundraising campaigns in the country. This was evident in an event held by the Hamas representation in Mauritania on March 12, 2025, attended by Hamas officials Sami Abu Zuhri and Osama Hamdan. The event was held to thank and praise the Mauritanian donors, and a banner behind the speakers' podium, captioned "Partners in Victory," featured an image of President Ghazouani.[7] Banner at Hamas event in Nouakchott features a portrait of Mauritanian President Ghazouani and the caption "Partners in Victory" (Image: March 12, 2025) Hamas Representative: The Mauritanian Fundraising Efforts Are A Form Of "Jihad"; This Money Has A Part In "Every Explosive Device, Every Bomb, Every Bullet And Every Tunnel" Used By Hamas An event held by Hamas's representation in Mauritania several weeks before this, on February 8, 2025, was also intended to thank the Mauritanian people for their support of the "resistance." The event was attended by Hamas's representative in the country, Muhammad Abu Saqer, and by representatives of the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People, two organizations involved in fundraising for Hamas. At this event too, a banner was displayed featuring a photo of President Ghazouani alongside the words: "Thank you, Mauritania." Another banner glorified Hamas leaders killed in the war: Yahya Sinwar, Isma'il Haniya and Saleh Al-Arouri. In his speech at the event, Abu Saqer noted that the donations to the movement were still coming. He quoted the spokesman of Hamas's military wing, Abu Obeida, as saying "Your money and your support have reached us and continue to reach us," and expressed gratitude for "the support and help in strengthening the military power of the Martyr Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades." Abu Saqer described the financial aid extended by Mauritanians to Hamas as a form of jihad, and stated that this money is "present on the battlefield" and facilitates military action and the excavation of tunnels. He said: "Your [fundraising] jihad was [evident] in every explosive device, every bomb, every bullet, every tunnel and every operation that killed the enemies of Allah."[8] Muhammad Abu Saqer speaks at the February 8, 2025 Hamas event in Mauritania (Image: February 8, 2025) Advertisement for the February 8, 2025 Hamas event in Mauritania (Image: February 7, 2025) In his speech at the same event, Sheikhani Bibb, the secretary-general of the Mauritanian "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization , praised Hamas's October 7 terror attack and the movement's military wing, which he said had gladdened the Mauritanians by "reviving the spirit of jihad and sacrifice." 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This was the second installment of the donation, following an earlier instalment, of $5.5 million, made by the tribe in February 2024.[10] The Leghlal tribe presents Hamas representative Abu Saqer with a check for one billion ouguiyas ($25 million) as part of an "aid initiative for Gaza" (Image: January 11, 2025) Also conspicuous in their fundraising efforts are the two aforementioned organizations, the Mauritanian Islamic Forum and the National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People. These organizations stress that the donations are intended for "supporting Gaza" and "supporting the Palestinian people," but in actual fact they collect funds for Hamas in cooperation with the Mauritanian tribes. The following are examples from the recent months: The "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" Organization In January 2025 the Ijman tribe presented this organization, headed by Sheikhani Bibb, with a check for 50 million ouguiyas ($1.25 million) "for supporting Gaza" and "aiding the Palestinian people."[11] The Ijman tribe hands over 50 million ouguiyas ($1.25 million) to the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization as "aid for Gaza" (Image: January 11, 2025) That same month, the Tanadgha tribe raised $2.2 million "for the Palestinian people" via a Whatsapp group and delivered it to the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization. The Tanadgha tribe donates $2.2 million "to the Palestinian people" in cooperation with the "National Ribat for Support of the Palestinian People" organization (Image: January 8, 2025) On February 24, 2025 this organization committed to rebuilding 100 housing units in the Gaza Strip, at a total cost of $400,000.[12] The Mauritanian Islamic Forum In November 2024 the Mauritanian Kunta tribe provided 20 million ouguiyas ($500,000) to the Hamas representative, in cooperation with the Mauritanian Islamic Forum, "for the benefit of the people of Gaza and as further aid for the resistance [i.e., Hamas' military wing]." The check bore the message "marking the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood."[13] The donation provided by the Kunta tribe, in cooperation with the Mauritanian Islamic Forum, "for the benefit of the people of Gaza and as further aid for the resistance" (Image: November 2, 2024) In October 2024, Hamas official Osama Hamdan visited Mauritania and attended a conference of the Mauritanian Islamic Forum. In his speech at the conference he praised the "official and popular efforts in Mauritania" to aid Gaza and its people.[14] Ad by Mauritanian Islamic Forum calling to donate "to your brothers in northern Gaza" (Image: June 21, 2024)
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