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On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned four Gaza flotilla activists, baselessly smearing them as part of “Hamas support networks.”

The four activists — Saif Abukeshek, Jaldia Aueda, Hisham Abu Mahfuz, and Mohammed Khatib — are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s siege of Gaza in order to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The Global Sumud Flotilla is organized by the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, which the Department of the Treasury also sanctioned in January 2026.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury claimed that it is “taking action” against individuals “associated with the pro-Hamas flotilla.” It said that the flotilla is “attempting to access Gaza in support of Hamas.”

The statement quoted Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, who called the flotilla “pro-terror” and its attempt to break Israel’s siege of Gaza “a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region.” Bessent claimed the sanctions were part of the treasury’s work to “sever Hamas’ global financial support networks.”

In the same statement, the U.S. Treasury announced additional sanctions on unrelated groups and individuals based in Egypt, and on the Palestinian Scholars Association in Gaza. It claimed — without evidence — that each of these groups........

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