On September 11, 2001, most Americans were shocked to hear that 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. The mastermind of the worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States, Osama bin Laden, was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. Joint Intelligence Report by the U.S. Congress using "incontrovertible evidence" linked Saudi Arabia to the financing of al-Qaeda operatives in the United States. Saudi Arabia’s involvement in terrorist financing can be documented through materials captured by Israel in Palestinian headquarters in 2002-3 including 70 per cent direct funding to Hamas.