Documents from Hamas that it claims prove a direct link between the Palestinian terrorist organization and the leaders of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been announced to be in the possession of the Israeli military, according to a report in the Jerusalem Post.

According to the IDF, the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), established in 2018, is an offshoot of Hamas abroad and functions as a de facto “embassy” of the terrorist organization.

In confirmation of their claims, the Israeli armed forces released a document from 2021 by the then-head of the Hamas Politburo, Ismail Haniyah, which explicitly calls on the PCPA chairman for unity.

A second letter included a detailed list of PCPA activists, including senior Hamas officials directly involved in convoy operations.

Among the names highlighted by the IDF is Zaher Birawi, head of the PCPA’s Hamas branch in Britain, who has reportedly led the Gaza-bound protest convoys for more than 15 years.

The list also includes Saif Abu Kishk, a PCPA agent in Spain who is also the CEO of the Spanish cybersecurity company Cyber Neptune, which has several ships involved in the current fleet.

“Hamas in the Gaza Strip is responsible for activities inside the Strip, while Hamas abroad manages operations outside the Strip, including mobilization and provocations,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said. “These documents reveal the depth of Hamas’ international network and its operational control over the individuals leading the convoy.”

The flotilla, numbering about 50 vessels, is currently escorted by Italian and Spanish warships. The organizers say they intend to deliver the aid directly to Gaza, rejecting Israel’s proposal to take the cargo through Ashkelon or Cyprus. It remains unclear how the confrontation will play out when the ships approach Israeli waters. Israel insists it will not allow direct access to the Gaza coast.
The convoy is expected to arrive in Israeli waters in the coming days.