An activist sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for alleged links to Hamas was invited to speak at an event held within the grounds of the UK Parliament just weeks after the sanctions were imposed. Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek, a Palestinian-Spanish dual national, was cited by the U.S. Treasury as a central figure in the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), an organization the U.S. Treasury stated was "established with funding from Hamas's International Relations Bureau and Hamas directs its activity through the placement of Hamas officials throughout the organisation."
Abukishek was also listed as a steering committee member of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The U.S. Treasury said this group was "attempting to access Gaza in support of Hamas." Israeli authorities subsequently stopped the flotilla's boats and arrested activists. The Global Sumud Flotilla's UK arm has denied any links to terrorism, stating that Abukishek was "targeted" as part of an effort to "silence human rights defenders."
The event, titled 'Global Sumud Flotilla,' took place on June 8 in Portcullis House. Labour MPs Neil Duncan-Jordan, Richard Burgon, Lorraine Beavers, and Steve Witherden were identified as attendees. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent MP, also attended, along with Green Party members Baroness Jenny Jones and Hannah Spencer, and MPs Ayoub Khan and Shockat Adam. Social media posts showed some attendees holding placards calling for an end to Palestinian detention and sanctions against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Duncan-Jordan, who hosted the event, stated that his office had received assurances that attendees had no criminal convictions and no evidence linked them to terrorist organizations. He explained that he supported the meeting to allow aid volunteers to speak about their experiences, noting that the U.S. characterization of the flotilla as a "terror flotilla" is contested, and that the UN Human Rights Office has stated it is not a crime to show solidarity and attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Counter-terror expert Martin Gallagher described the invitation as "jaw-dropping" naivety and called for Mr. Burnham to address the situation, given the threat of Islamist terrorism in the UK. Lord Walney, a former UK Government advisor on political violence, urged the new Prime Minister to demonstrate zero tolerance for anyone supporting Hamas.
Another Labour MP, David Taylor, called the decision to invite Abukishek "grossly irresponsible," stating that providing a platform that legitimizes extremist ideology is unacceptable and urging an investigation by the Speaker of the House.
Abukishek stated that the sanctions against him were political and that he was never charged with any offense or given an opportunity to challenge the allegations. He asserted that the MPs who invited him were aware of his situation and invited him to hear about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the flotilla's efforts. He questioned whether elected representatives should allow foreign governments' politically motivated designations to dictate their engagement with individuals, arguing that MPs are capable of making their own decisions.
