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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that Sheikh Abdulkarim Masri, a parliamentary candidate for the Ra'am (United Arab List) Party, was linked to suspicions of terrorism financing.

According to the statement, Masri, who ranks sixth on the Ra'am Party's candidate list, served as president of the "Humanitarian Actions Association" between January 2023 and February 2025. The association was dissolved by a court order in May 2026. It was also alleged that the association's bank account had been frozen over suspicions of terrorism financing, money laundering and activities in enemy countries.

The investigation cited by Netanyahu alleged that Masri signed a cooperation and financing agreement in February 2023, months before the October 2023 attacks, with the Turkey-based "Hayat Yolu" association. The investigation further claimed that US authorities regarded the association as linked to a financing network for Hamas's military wing and assessed that it used humanitarian aid activities to conceal money transfers.

Among the allegations were claims that Masri met with association executives at meetings and ceremonies during his visits to Turkey. The statement also said that Israel's Supreme Court had ruled that sufficient evidence had been presented to justify Bank Leumi's decision to freeze the association's account. Masri was also reported to have submitted statements on behalf of the association during the legal proceedings.

Netanyahu stated that Masri had progressed from heading the association toward membership in the Israeli parliament, and also raised the possibility of the Ra'am Party participating in the government. He questioned a potential situation in which the party, as part of a future government, would oversee the activities of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of National Security.

The accusations and alleged connections included in Netanyahu's statement were reported as claims based on the investigation he shared.