The Trump administration on Tuesday accused Hamas of using activist and Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks to support a Gaza-bound flotilla and sanctioned several organizers tied to the effort.

The sanctions package, announced by the Treasury and State departments, also targeted activists associated with Samidoun, an anti-Israel activist network that U.S. officials describe as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), along with operatives tied to Muslim Brotherhood networks aligned with Hamas.

The U.S. has designated the PFLP as a foreign terrorist organization. And governments including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. Both groups are Islamist organizations that believe in establishing Islamic theocracies where sharia, or Islamic law, is the law of the land.

The sanctions came after the Israeli navy stopped dozens of boats from the flotilla in international waters off Cyprus and detained hundreds of activists on board. Activists involved in the flotilla say the mission is intended to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade of the territory, while Israeli officials have described the effort as a political provocation.

The move lands as a warning shot at a broader activist ecosystem in the U.S. that has long championed the flotilla campaign in a nexus between Islamist and pro-communist organizations, including CodePink and the People’s Forum, nonprofits funded by an American Marxist expatriate, Neville Roy Singham, living in Shanghai, promoting the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party. On Monday, CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin published a video, protesting the «kidnapping» of flotilla members detained by Israel, calling the country a «pariah state.» Earlier this month, the People’s Forum demanded the release of other detained activists. The sanctions fit a wider Treasury Department strategy of targeting networks that use humanitarian or civil-society branding to amplify causes aligned with Hamas.

ISRAEL CLAIMS NO AID WAS FOUND ABOARD GAZA-BOUND FLOTILLA

«The pro-terror flotilla attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region,» Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. «Treasury will continue to sever Hamas’ global financial support networks, no matter where in the world they are,» Bessent said.

The move reflects growing scrutiny from U.S. officials over the role activist, nonprofit and international support networks play in amplifying or supporting groups designated as terrorist organizations.

The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets of designated individuals and generally prohibit Americans and U.S.-based entities from conducting business with them.

The State Department said the designations target three categories of what it described as Hamas enablers: organizers of a Hamas-backed flotilla attempting to reach Gaza, operatives within Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks that facilitate violent terrorist attacks and coordinators tied to Samidoun.

Among those sanctioned were Spain-based Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek, a member of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad who Treasury officials said served on the flotilla’s steering committee, and Jordan-based Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfuz, the acting secretary general and president of the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad.

Treasury also sanctioned Belgium-based Samidoun coordinator Mohammed Khatib and Madrid-based activist Jaldia Abubakra Aueda, whom officials accused of helping coordinate the group’s activities in Europe.

TURKEY’S NATO ROLE UNDER SCRUTINY AMID NEW REPORT ON HAMAS, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD TIES

Israeli forces board a vessel during the interception of the Global Sumud flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea on May 19, 2026. (Global Sumud Flotilla via AP)

Treasury has previously described Samidoun as a fundraising and support platform for the PFLP in countries where the group faces legal restrictions.

The sanctions package also targeted several operatives tied to Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks, including members linked to Harakat Sawa’d Misr, an Egypt-based militant offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood known by the acronym HASM.

«Hamas uses these enablers to sustain its position in Gaza, finance its operations, and engage in terrorist violence beyond its borders,» the State Department said. «Today’s action exposes how Hamas exploits diaspora organizations, religious institutions, and purported civil society groups to advance its malign agenda while claiming humanitarian objectives.»

Treasury accused Karim Sayed Ahmed Moghny, one of the individuals sanctioned Tuesday, of directing militant activity, training operatives in covert operations and collaborating with HASM on attacks targeting Israeli interests.

Treasury also sanctioned Marwan Abu Ras and the Palestinian Scholars Association, which officials accused of helping align religious institutions in Gaza with Hamas’ ideology.

The sanctions came as Israeli forces intercepted the remaining flotilla vessels Tuesday, detaining hundreds of activists aboard the boats, according to The Associated Press.

Cutline/caption: Israeli soldiers are seen on a vessel bearing symbols of the Global Sumud flotilla, with a cargo ship behind it, as seen from Ashdod, southern Israel, on May 19, 2026. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Flotilla organizers said 428 activists from more than 40 countries were detained after Israeli forces stopped roughly 41 vessels in international waters off Cyprus, according to the AP.

Amnesty International called for the release of flotilla activists, including Abukishek, and described the mission as a «peaceful solidarity mission» intended to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

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Turkey and Hamas condemned Israel’s interception of the flotilla, while Ireland’s prime minister described the operation in international waters as «absolutely unacceptable,» according to the AP.

Samidoun told Fox News Digital it rejected the sanctions and denied having «material or organizational ties» to groups designated as terrorist organizations. The group also accused the U.S. government of politically coordinating the sanctions with Israel’s interception of the flotilla, which it described as «piracy» and the «abduction» of activists.

Fox News Digital was unable to immediately reach representatives for Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad through publicly available channels.

Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s deleted Reddit account has continued to cause headaches for his campaign in recent months, and a recently resurfaced post appearing to mock a U.S. soldier almost killed in combat is stirring up more controversy. 

«This video never gets old,» the Reddit account «P-Hustle» — which Platner has acknowledged he owned — posted in June 2019, in reference to a viral video from the helmet cam of Pfc. Ted Daniels taken during a clash with Taliban fighters in 2012 that ended in Daniels being shot four times. He earned a Purple Heart for his injuries.

«Dumb motherf******  didn’t deserve to live. At least his stupidity and fat ass wheezing are available for all future infantrymen to witness and hold in contempt. Poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s part is the only reason this mouthbreather made it home, he managed to make every possible shit decision possible when it comes to small unit combat.» 

The post was deleted but can be found on the Maine Monitor’s database of Platner’s deleted Reddit history.

UNEARTHED POSTS SHOW DEM SENATE HOPEFUL PRAISING VULGAR GRAFFITI, MAKING CRUDE PORTA POTTY ADMISSION

Daniels said in later interviews that he purposely moved into the open to draw fire away from other men in his unit, and while he expressed embarrassment and said «tactically» it was «not a sound thing to do,» ultimately, «I put my a– on the line for other guys.»

Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is garnering criticism over the deleted post from a variety of sources ranging from the internet, to the National Republican Senate Committee, to a former Marine who spoke to Fox News Digital. 

«We don’t make jokes about our brothers and sisters dying, that’s not something we do, that’s not normal,» Adam Schwarze, a former Navy SEAL and Marine veteran running for U.S. Senate as a Republican in Minnesota, said about Platner mocking a fellow soldier on social media in an open forum.

MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE CITES COMBAT TRAUMA WHEN CONFRONTED ON ‘TERRIBLE’ POSTS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT

Schwarze acknowledged that Marines can sometimes have a «dark» sense of humor and give each other a hard time about tactics when speaking privately, but said that Platner’s post was something different. 

«We don’t post about our brothers getting wounded in action.»

Schwarze also took issue with posts from Platner’s account related to law enforcement, including that «all police are bastards», given that so many members of law enforcement are former active duty military.

«I think it’s very dangerous to say, ‘Hey, this is how veterans think and talk’ because that’s just not true. I served 21 years, nine deployments, I don’t know one combat veteran who makes comments like cops are bastards.»

Schwarze said he believes Platner has «mental issues.» 

«I feel bad for him. I think he should get some help. He deserves help from his time down range, from his PTSD and his mental health issues, but he certainly shouldn’t be running for the United States Senate.»

NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell added, «Anyone who makes fun of the American soldiers who gave their lives for freedom and cheers on terrorists has no place serving in the United States Senate.»

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Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth, Maine, on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

«That’s what Platner thinks about his fellow Americans at war,» journalist Magdi Jacobs, who first published the deleted entry on social media, wrote on X. «If they’re not good at killing or broader tactics, he has contempt for them. He displays no empathy. The opposite, in fact.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign for comment.

Platner, a first-time candidate who is backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, has previously responded to questions about his social posts by saying he was joking.

«You should read the comments in context. It’s very clear I’m joking,» he previously told Fox News Digital when asked about other comments. «It’s called s—posting. It’s when you argue with people on the internet and try to bother them. So, yeah, no, it’s very obviously not true.» 

Other posts Platner has been questioned about, including in a recent interview with The New York Times, include a 2013 post, which Platner later deleted, that people concerned about rape should not «get so f—ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to.»

Platner has also faced scrutiny for more recent Reddit posts, including one from five years ago in which he described himself as a «communist» and «socialist.» Additionally, Platner’s posts have contained alleged homophobic slurs and praise for military tactics used by Hamas.

Platner became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee after his rival for the nomination, two-term Gov. Janet Mills, ended her campaign last month after trailing Platner in polling and fundraising.

Platner will attempt to defeat five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall in a closely watched race that could have a significant impact on the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

La muerte de una nena de dos años en Chile generó una fuerte conmoción y abrió una investigación judicial contra su padre, que quedó detenido acusado de homicidio por omisión.

La menor cayó desde el piso 11 de un edificio ubicado en la comuna de Las Condes, en Santiago, mientras estaba bajo el cuidado de su papá durante una visita autorizada por la Justicia.

El hecho ocurrió el domingo por la tarde, cerca de las 17:10, en un departamento de la calle Los Militares. Según reconstruyó la fiscalía chilena, la nena, identificada como Isidora, había llegado esa mañana al edificio para pasar el día con su padre, Jorge Constanzo, quien tenía un régimen de visitas establecido: podía verla un domingo al mes, entre las 10 y las 18.

Este domingo, el hombre llegó cerca de 50 minutos tarde a buscar a la menor para concretar el encuentro. Luego, ambos almorzaron juntos y regresaron al departamento.

Horas antes de la tragedia Constanzo había participado del cumpleaños de su pareja en el quincho del edificio y luego continuó la celebración en un boliche hasta la madrugada. Los fiscales sostienen que había consumido alcohol y que se quedó dormido junto a su pareja mientras la nena descansaba sola en otra habitación del departamento.

“La acción del imputado fue mucho más que una negligencia”, afirmó el fiscal Jorge Reyes Henríquez durante la audiencia de imputación. Según explicó, la menor estuvo sola entre una hora y media y dos horas en un dormitorio donde la cama estaba pegada a una ventana sin redes de protección.

La caída fue advertida por una vecina que escuchó un fuerte golpe en el sector de estacionamiento del complejo. Cuando llegaron los policías y los equipos de emergencia, intentaron determinar desde qué departamento había caído la nena. Como Isidora no vivía en el edificio, nadie lograba identificarla.

Recién varios minutos después lograron ubicar el departamento del padre. Siempre según la fiscalía, el hombre no reaccionó a los primeros llamados porque seguía dormido. Los investigadores estiman que se enteró de la muerte de su hija alrededor de 40 minutos después de la caída.

Durante la audiencia judicial también se reveló que existía un acuerdo previo en el Tribunal de Familia para instalar medidas de seguridad en el departamento debido a las visitas de la menor. Sin embargo, la querella impulsada por la madre, Gloria Ortiz, sostiene que las protecciones solo habían sido colocadas en el balcón y no en otras ventanas del inmueble.

El padre fue imputado por homicidio por omisión y permanece con internación provisoria en Santiago 1 mientras la Justicia define si quedará en prisión preventiva. La defensa, en tanto, pidió medidas menos gravosas, como firma mensual y arraigo nacional.

El dolor de la mamá de Isidora: “Era extremadamente querida”

La mamá de Isidora habló públicamente después de la tragedia y aseguró que la familia atraviesa horas de profundo dolor.

“Como familia estamos tremendamente consternados por la muerte de mi hija”, expresó Gloria Ortiz en declaraciones a Radio Bío Bío. Además, sostuvo que espera que la investigación permita esclarecer lo ocurrido y apuntó a una presunta negligencia durante el cuidado de la menor.

“Hasta el momento, ellos tienen que tomar el caso y abordarlo de la manera que es, que es un acto negligente durante el cuidado personal de mi hija”, afirmó.

La mujer contó que la noticia le resultó imposible de creer en un primer momento. “Se acercaba la hora de la llegada de la Isidora y ese mensaje nunca llegó”, recordó.

Tras recibir el llamado de Carabineros, Gloria intentó comunicarse con el padre de la menor y también con familiares de él para confirmar lo ocurrido. Finalmente, fue la hermana del hombre quien le informó que la tragedia era real.

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La mamá de Isidora también habló del cariño que recibía la nena en su entorno cotidiano. “He recibido mucho apoyo de donde trabajo, del jardín donde asistía la Isidora, que era tremendamente querida”, dijo.

“Ahora toca esperar para poder tener a mi hija y despedirla de la mejor manera posible junto a toda su familia”, concluyó.