Convicted Terrorist Financier Walks Free: Mufid Abdulqader Freed from U.S. Federal Prison Before Serving Full Sentence
How the justice system continues to fail the victims of Hamas and the Disturbing Pattern of Terror-Connected Charities
Mufid Abdulqader, a convicted terrorist financier and one of the notorious Holy Land Five, has been released from prison four years ahead of completing his 20-year sentence. His early release into a halfway house, where he is slated to spend a year, raises serious concerns about justice for the victims of terrorism and the message this sends to those who fund and enable violence. Abdulqader is no ordinary figure, he is the half-brother of Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal, a top leader of Hamas who has orchestrated and overseen countless attacks against innocent civilians, most recently the October 7th massacre. Khaled Masha'al is one of the most senior Hamas officials who has not been eliminated.
Abdulqader’s role in the Holy Land Foundation scandal was central, as part of the foundation’s activities, he performed at fundraisers, singing songs that openly supported Hamas’ terrorist agenda and raised millions of dollars for the organization. This funding directly supported Hamas’ operations, including suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other acts of terrorism that have claimed the lives of men, women, and children.
The rationale for Abdulqader’s early release remains unclear. Whether it was part of an undisclosed agreement related to a potential ceasefire-prisoner swap deal or due to administrative leniency such as "good behavior," the outcome is indefensible. A man who helped fund one of the world’s most notorious terrorist organizations is now walking free before serving his full sentence.
The Holy Land Foundation Case
The Holy Land Foundation was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government in 2001, and in 2008, five of its leaders were convicted on charges of providing material support to Hamas, a designated terrorist group. This led to the foundation's closure. The Holy Land Foundation, once the largest Islamic “charity” in the United States, was revealed to be nothing more than a front for financing Hamas.
An investigation uncovered that the organization funneled over $12 million to Hamas through a network of zakat committees in Gaza and the West Bank, controlled by the terrorist group. These funds were used not for humanitarian purposes, as claimed, but to sustain Hamas’ terror operations and reward the families of suicide bombers, ensuring a continued pipeline of recruits for their violent cause.
Abdulqader was convicted in 2008 on three charges: conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to provide funds and goods to terrorists, and conspiracy to launder money. Four others were convicted and sentenced in addition to Mufid: Shukri Abu Baker, 50, and Ghassan Elashi, 55, with a sentence of 65 years behind bars. Abdulrahman Odeh was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the same charges as Abdulqader. Mohammed El-Mezain was sentenced to 180 months in prison and three years of supervisory release for providing support to Hamas.
A Disturbing Pattern of Terror-Connected Charities
The release of figures like Mufid Abdulqader is part of a growing trend where terror financing is disguised as human rights advocacy. Organizations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe are increasingly found to support terror groups while presenting themselves as charitable.
One example is Samidoun, a group now designated as a terrorist organization, which has been a major advocate for the Holy Land Five—individuals convicted of supporting Hamas. Samidoun’s campaigns for the release of terrorists in Israeli prisons highlight the normalization of terror-supporting narratives in the West and financing of terrorism through non-profits and NGOs.
NGO Monitor for years has widely documented non-profits links to terrorism and the network of NGOs and their sophisticated and interconnected system pushing anti-Israel agendas and attacking supporters of the Jewish State. Some of such reports include, “Mapping the anti-Israel NGO Network in the US” and “The NGO Network Driving Antisemitism in Canada”
One of the latest example is the Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgium-based NGO founded in September 2024, led by Dyab Abou Jahjah and Karim Hassoun, both long-time supporters of Hezbollah. Jahjah, who has claimed to be a member of Hezbollah, has openly supported the terror group, while Hassoun has made numerous inflammatory statements against Israel and praised Hamas.
In 2009, both Jahjah and Hassoun signed aIn the case of Pro-Hezbollah and -Hamas NGO it has gone as far as allowing them to submit an ICC complaint targeting 1000 IDF soldiersn appeal demanding the removal of Hamas from the European Union's list of terrorist organizations. Their support for terrorist groups and anti-Israel rhetoric demonstrates how some charities use humanitarian fronts to push dangerous political agendas. In the case of Pro-Hezbollah and -Hamas NGO it has gone as far as allowing them to submit an ICC complaint targeting 1000 IDF soldiers
In a video call, Mohamed Khatib, European coordinator for the PFLP and Samidoun, stated that the most significant achievement of October 7th was the “restoration of the diaspora's role in the Palestinian cause”, emphasizing that they have successfully registered over 20 new NGOs and calling it “A great success”.