Report Reveals Approximately 450 Individuals with Hamas Ties in Canada, Including Citizens

A recent article, highlighted by analyst Casey Babb, has brought to light allegations that approximately 450 individuals with various roles in Hamas maintain ties to Canada. This figure reportedly includes Canadian citizens holding leadership positions within the organization, such as alleged operative and financier Usama Ali, as well as lower-level fundraisers like Winnipeg resident Omar Alkassab. The revelations, initially reported by Global News, raise significant national security concerns regarding support for a designated terrorist group within Canadian borders.Among those identified is Usama Ali, who reportedly holds both Lebanese and Canadian citizenship and is described as an alleged Hamas operative, leader, and financier. Ali has been named in U.S. sanctions filings, underscoring the international scope of these alleged connections. His purported role highlights the deep integration of some individuals with Canadian ties into the financial and operational networks of Hamas.Another individual mentioned is Omar Alkassab, a Syrian refugee residing in Winnipeg, who is alleged to serve as a lower-level fundraiser for the group. Israeli authorities reportedly identified a digital wallet belonging to Alkassab as part of the Dubai Money Exchange, a company designated in 2022 as part of Hamas’s financial network. Alkassab's citizenship application, filed in 2019, has since been suspended, though he stated in a court filing that he has not been informed of the reasons or if he is under investigation.According to a source familiar with Canadian intelligence assessments, the approximately 450 individuals reflect a broad spectrum of associations with Hamas, ranging from suspected financial facilitators to those linked to its overseas investment network. Casey Babb, who highlighted the article, expressed strong condemnation, stating, > "Simply put, there are potentially hundreds of people living in Canada who are supporting terrorist organizations that are killing Canadian citizens and our allies. This is a disgrace." The findings underscore the ongoing challenges for Canadian authorities in monitoring and addressing alleged support for terrorist entities.