The US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on four activists involved in a flotilla seeking to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. These individuals—Saif Abukeshek, Jaldia Aueda, Hisham Abu Mahfuz, and Mohammed Khatib—are members of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an initiative aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Treasury accused them of being connected to “pro-Hamas” networks, though no evidence was presented to support these allegations.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is organized by the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, which was itself sanctioned earlier this year. The Treasury claimed the flotilla intends to support Hamas by attempting to breach the Israeli siege of Gaza. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the flotilla’s mission as a "pro-terror" effort that undermines US-led peace initiatives in the region. Additional sanctions were announced targeting unrelated groups in Egypt and Gaza, including the Palestinian Scholars Association, also accused without proof of Hamas affiliations.
This latest move comes amid Israeli naval interceptions of the flotilla vessels, which have occurred repeatedly in international waters. Israeli forces boarded the ships, fired on several vessels, and detained activists, including Saif Abukeshek, who was abducted near Crete before being held and interrogated in Israel. The flotilla’s efforts focus on drawing international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement brokered under the Trump administration.
Activists directly involved denounced the sanctions as an attempt to criminalize legitimate solidarity and humanitarian work. Abukeshek, after his release, emphasized his commitment to human rights and condemned efforts to silence opposition to the blockade and ongoing violence in Gaza, which has resulted in substantial Palestinian casualties and persistent shortages of essential supplies.