An activist flotilla, led by 22-year-old Greta Thunberg, is facing serious allegations of ties to Hamas as it attempts to deliver supplies to Gaza. Recent documents found in Gaza reveal connections between the flotilla organizers and the militant group, which has been in conflict with Israel for nearly two years.
The Israeli foreign ministry claims that two key figures in the flotilla are linked to Hamas. They also state that many of the boats involved are owned by a company that acts as a front for Hamas. This information comes from documents that the ministry says show a direct relationship between the flotilla leaders and Hamas.
The Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which was founded in 2018, has been labeled a terrorist organization by Israel since 2021 due to its close ties to Hamas. Two senior members of the PCPA are also the main organizers of the flotillas, including the one led by Thunberg. She was reportedly arrested by the Israeli military as the flotilla tried to reach Gaza.
According to the Israeli foreign ministry, the PCPA operates similarly to Hamas’ diplomatic missions abroad, using a civilian facade to coordinate actions against Israel, including protests and flotillas. Documents from Gaza include a letter from Ismail Haniyeh, a former Hamas leader, calling for unity to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
One document identifies Zaher Birawi, who heads the PCPA’s Hamas sector in the UK, and Saif Abu Kashk, a PCPA member in Spain and CEO of Cyber Neptune—a front company for Hamas that owns many of the boats in Thunberg’s flotilla. Israel asserts that this means the vessels are effectively owned by Hamas.
The flotilla organizers claim they aim to break through Israel’s military blockade to provide aid to the people of Gaza. However, Israeli officials argue that the organizers are more focused on creating an international incident than delivering genuine help. They note that both Italy and Israel offered to send aid directly to Gaza, but the flotilla leaders declined those offers.
Israeli spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated, “They’re not interested in aid — they’re interested in provocation.” He emphasized that the intention behind the flotilla seems to be more about confrontation than humanitarian assistance.
