Supporters watch as a boat that is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla departs to Gaza, claiming to deliver aid amid Israel’s blockade on the Palestinian territory, in the Tunisian port of Bizerte, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Anis Mili) (AP Photo/Anis Mili)
Gaza flotilla

A statement from within the movement described the conduct as a “clear violation of ethics and power.”

By Shula Rosen

Allegations of misconduct involving a senior figure aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla have sparked internal backlash, with claims that multiple activists were affected and that leadership failed to act.

A statement from within the movement said a steering committee member, identified by the code name BL, allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct involving “not one person. Not two. Three different individuals,” all described as volunteers on what was presented as a humanitarian mission.

“Let’s be clear about something. We don’t care what anyone does in their private time,” the statement said, before raising concerns about actions that allegedly took place in shared spaces aboard the vessel. It described the conduct as a “clear violation of ethics and power.”

According to the statement, the allegations had been known internally for six months, with no action taken by flotilla leadership. “They kept them on the boat. They handed them more power. They protected them,” the statement said.

The same account listed multiple allegations, including “sexual misconduct,” “verbal abuse” and “financial theft.”

The flotilla has been promoted as a “human rights flotilla” aimed at Gaza, but the controversy has prompted criticism from within activist circles.

One senior figure was quoted reacting to the situation by saying, “We do not care what anyone does in their private time… But to do it on the boat?”

Separate criticism came from Imam Mikhail Falastin, who in a social media post said she took part in a previous mission. “I was on the last mission and I held back from speaking (for the sake of Gaza).”

He continued, “My shock came when arriving and learning they did not even plan to reach Gaza. Their promise to break the siege and facilitate humanitarian aid was a lie.”

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