Global Sumud Congress Convenes in Brussels With Terror-Linked Speakers and Flotilla Organizers
Gathering in Brussels features Hamas front group coordinators, UN officials cited by terrorist groups, and politicians with documented extremist ties.
As the Global Sumud Flotilla sails toward Gaza, a parallel gathering convened in Brussels on April 22, bringing together European parliamentarians, UN officials, and civil society leaders under the banner of “dismantling colonial apartheid.”
However, an investigation by Jewish Onliner found that the convening, referred to as the Global Sumud Parliamentary Congress, featured multiple speakers with documented ties to U.S.-designated terror organizations, Hamas front groups, and extremist networks.
The event’s speaker roster included UN rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, Flotilla coordinator Saif Abukeshek, who serves on the leadership of a U.S.-sanctioned Hamas front organization, French MEP Rima Hassan, charged with "apology for terrorism" following pro-Hamas statements, Turkish parliamentarian Hasan Turan, who has facilitated meetings between Hamas leaders and Turkish officials, and more.
Documents seized from Hamas offices after October 7, 2023 revealed that the Sumud Flotilla’s steering committee included members of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), which the U.S. Treasury designated in January 2026 as an organization “clandestinely controlled by Hamas.” The Treasury Department stated that PCPA “operates at Hamas’s behest” with Hamas providing $100,000 to fund the organization’s inaugural conference.
Saif Abukeshek: Coordinator of Hamas-Linked Flotilla
Saif Abukeshek, listed as the Coordinator of the Global Sumud Flotilla among the congress speakers, serves on the General Secretariat of the PCPA. Israeli intelligence documents identified Zaher Birawi, another PCPA senior official, as “the head of the PCPA’s Hamas sector in Britain.” The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Birawi in January 2026 for “materially assisting” the Hamas front organization.
Francesca Albanese: UN Rapporteur Embraced by Terror Groups
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, has also drawn criticism from watchdog groups over past appearances and statements. UN Watch, reported that Albanese spoke virtually at a November 2022 conference that also featured Hamas Deputy Foreign Minister Ghazi Hamad, Hamas spokesperson Abd al-Latif al-Qanu, and leaders from Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Albanese also has separately documented cases in which Hamas officials and other extremist-aligned outlets cited and amplified her work.
UN Watch documented that Albanese’s reports have been cited by Hamas officials in at least a dozen instances to legitimize the group’s actions. Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim expressed his appreciation for Albanese’s work in “conveying the painful and harsh reality in the Palestinian territories with objectivity and professionalism.”
Iranian state media, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, and Hamas-affiliated channels have regularly amplified her statements, UN Watch noted.
Rima Hassan: French MEP Charged with “Apology for Terrorism”
Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament, has faced accusations of “apology for terrorism” in French courts. She was placed in French police custody in 2026 over suspicion of glorifying terrorism, during which authorities noted finding synthetic drugs in her personal belongings.
Hasan Turan: Alleged Turkish Hamas Facilitator
Just five days after the October 7, 2023 massacre, Turan hosted Bassem Naim, former Hamas “health minister” for Gaza, at the Turkish National Assembly alongside members of KUTAD, a Hamas front organization whose founder was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for managing Hamas finances.
Turan also serves as Vice-President of the League of Parliamentarians for Al-Quds and Palestine (LP4Q), an international lobbying network whose President, Hamid bin Abdullah Al-Ahmar, was designated by the U.S. Treasury in October 2024 as “one of the most prominent international supporters of Hamas” and a key member of the terrorist group’s investment portfolio.
Turkey has served as a key hub for Hamas operations, with President Erdogan declaring in October 2023 that “Hamas is not a terrorist organization but rather a liberation group. According to Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) research, Turan “plays one of the most—if not the most—prominent government roles in facilitating Hamas goals” by organizing high-level meetings between senior Hamas leaders and Turkish political elites.
Exploiting Democratic Institutions
The Global Sumud Parliamentary Congress is yet another example of how alleged terror-tied organizations exploit humanitarian rhetoric and legitimate political processes to advance their objectives. By convening in the heart of Europe and featuring parliamentarians alongside flotilla organizers linked to Hamas front groups, the event provided legitimacy to what U.S. Treasury officials characterized as Hamas’s covert support network.
As the U.S. Treasury noted in its PCPA designation, “It is Hamas, through their insidious strategy of hiding behind civilians while using terrorism to attempt to achieve political aims, both in Gaza and abroad, that puts innocent lives at risk and undermines international efforts to build a lasting peace and a prosperous future for all Palestinians.”