Israeli Foreign Minister Exposes Terror Groups' Alliance with Radical Left Activists Worldwide

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar spoke on June 8, 2023, at a Washington conference on the resurgence of political terrorism, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Invited by the U.S. State Department, Sa'ar highlighted the operational collaboration between terrorist organizations and radical left-wing groups across Western democracies in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and beyond. He warned that together they challenge democratic values and freedoms, manipulating global narratives through major media outlets like the BBC and The New York Times.

Sa'ar specifically addressed the so-called "Freedom Flotilla," describing it as a facade for humanitarian aid while actually aiming to break a lawful naval blockade and serve terrorist interests, primarily Hamas. He revealed that Israeli Defense Forces had seized Hamas documents showing covert funding, operational involvement, and ownership of vessels via a Spanish shell company. This flotilla network is linked to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, providing civilian cover and legitimacy to terrorist activities.

The Foreign Minister detailed how left-wing activists provide logistical support, recruit participants, mobilize student groups, and generate public pressure, while Hamas supplies strategic direction. He cited evidence of Hamas financing and secretly owning the "peace ships," with direct ties between flotilla organizers and terrorist groups including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Senior Hamas operatives reportedly run these campaigns from Britain and other Western capitals.

Among the materials Sa'ar presented were documents from 2021 found in Gaza tunnels, signed by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, confirming Zahar Birawi, a prominent Hamas activist in Britain and head of its European wing, as a key flotilla organizer for over 15 years. Birawi was pictured with anti-Israel activist Greta Thunberg in June 2025 preparing for the flotilla and also appeared alongside Haniyeh. Brazilian pro-Palestinian activist Tiago Avila was also seen with Thunberg before the flotilla and at the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Sa'ar's disclosures underscore the intertwined nature of radical left activism and terrorist operations, challenging Western democracies to recognize and counter these covert alliances.