The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four activists for their participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which aims to bring humanitarian aid to famine-hit Gaza amid Israel’s blockade. The Donald Trump administration alleged that the organisers of the flotilla were trying to reach the Palestinian territory “in support of Hamas”.
Israel had earlier intercepted the latest fleet of the GSF, detaining activists, including the sister of the Irish President Catherine Connolly.
As Israel continues to block aid from reaching the Gaza strip despite a “ceasefire” mediated by Trump in October, Palestinians continue to suffer from critical shortages of food, medical supplies, baby formula, and sanitary products. Tel Aviv has also continued to bomb Gaza, killing 880 people since October. Many survivors are still living in tents, suffering from starvation and diseases.
International activists, including Greta Thunberg, have made repeated attempts to break Israel’s barriers and deliver aid to the war-torn region but the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) had intercepted the vessels each time.
U.S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement on Tuesday, “The pro-terror flotilla attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region. Treasury will continue to sever Hamas’ global financial support networks, no matter where in the world they are.”
The sanctions targeted Saif Abu Keshek and Hisham Abu Mahfouz from the advocacy group Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), and Mohammed Khatib and Jaldia Abubakra from the Palestinian prisoners solidarity network Samidoun.
Activists spoke up against the sanctions, calling the allegations against the vessels “ridiculous”.
One of the organisers, Palestinian American activist Huwaida Arraf told Al Jazeera, “The context is rejected. The facts are absolutely wrong, and all in all, it is just another attempt by the Trump administration and the US as a whole to break Palestinian solidarity efforts. And it won’t work; it won’t work.”
Samidoun also made a statement to the outlet, alleging that the sanctions against Khatib and Abubakra are “the latest manifestation of the ongoing US genocidal war on the Palestinian people”.
