Alleged Hamas Operative Organizing Flotilla

Just Journalism reports:

Mohammed Sawalha, a key organiser of the second flotilla which is set to attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza later this week, is alleged to be a Hamas operative with long-standing connections to the militant organisation. Last year’s flotilla resulted in widespread media coverage and international condemnation when nine individuals aboard the Mavi Marmara were killed by Israeli soldiers. Israel maintained that its soldiers had acted in self-defence after being attacked by activists from the controversial Turkish Islamist charity IHH.

Just Journalism has already analysed how early coverage in the British media has begun presenting an inaccurate narrative of peaceful organisers, contrasted with Israel’s belligerency.

Yesterday Press TV, the British-based news outlet with strong ties to the Iranian regime, aired an interview with Sawalha.  Appearing on the programme ‘Remember Palestine’, Sawalha, who is described as a ‘Gaza aid flotilla coordinator’, answers several questions about the logistics and aims of the fleet.

He also gave the closing remarks at an IHH conference on 17 June. The IHH website describes Sawalha as the ‘head of the International Committee to End the Siege on Gaza’, one of the key organisers of the second flotilla.