Left-wing MPs invited Hamas-linked activist to address them in Parliament just weeks after he was sanctioned by the US

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:01, 24 July 2026 | Updated: 00:18, 24 July 2026 Andy Burnham is under pressure to explain the 'jaw-dropping naivety' of his MPs after they invited an alleged Hamas-linked activist to Parliament offices just weeks after being sanctioned by the US. Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek was one of four individuals cited for being a 'central figure' in the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), as well as being on the steering committee of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The US Treasury said the PCPA was 'established with funding from Hamas's International Relations Bureau and Hamas directs its activity through the placement of Hamas officials throughout the organisation'. Meanwhile the Global Sumud Flotilla, organised by PCPA, was accused of 'attempting to access Gaza in support of Hamas'. Israeli authorities subsequently stopped the boats and arrested the activists. Abukishek, a Palestinian-Spanish dual national, is currently listed on the Global Sumud Flotilla's website as a steering committee member. The group's UK arm denied he or the organisation has any links to terrorism in a statement to Daily Mail.  Within just weeks of the sanctions, which were imposed in May, Abukishek was invited to speak within the grounds of Parliament. The 'Global Sumud Flotilla' event was hosted on June 8 in Room Q of Portcullis House. Abukishek, who was born in Nablus, West Bank and now lives in Spain, spoke alongside other flotilla participants who had been detained by Israel. Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, who represents Poole, was named as hosting the event which was attended by fellow party MPs Richard Burgon (Leeds East), Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood) and Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr). Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek (centre) was invited to speak within the grounds of Parliament by a Labour MP just weeks after being sanctioned by the US over alleged links to Hamas. Green peer Baroness Jenny Jones is seen to his left Abukishek was one of four individuals sanctioned in May by the US Treasury for being a 'central figure' in the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), as well as on the steering committee of the Global Sumud Flotilla Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent MP (third from right) attended alongside MPs Ayoub Khan MP and Shockat Ada (second from right) The latter three were seen in pictures posted on social media holding up placards inside the parliamentary room calling to 'end the mass detention of Palestinians,' 'end impunity for torture' and 'sanction Netanyahu now'. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent, was also in attendance alongside pro-Gaza MPs Shockat Adam and Ayoub Khan, as well as the Green Party's Hannah Spencer and Green peer Baroness Jenny Jones.  As the host of the event, Mr Duncan-Jordan should have been on site and in attendance at the event under parliamentary rules. He has since revealed to the Mail that he was 'not able to attend the meeting personally'. However, Mr Duncan-Jordan added that his office had 'sought and subsequently received assurances that those attending had no criminal convictions and that there was no evidence linking invited attendees to any terrorist organisations.' Counter terror expert and former police superintendent Martin Gallagher called on Mr Burnham to 'get a grip' on MPs openly endorsing individuals with alleged connections to terrorist organisations. He told Daily Mail: 'The naivety of bringing such an individual into the Houses of Parliament is jaw-dropping. 'With the UK contending with a severe threat from Islamist terrorism, the Home Office shouldn't be allowing individuals with alleged links to Hamas into the country, especially when the United States have sanctioned a person for such alleged links. 'The new Government needs to urgently get a grip if it is serious about tackling the rampant Islamist extremism already within the UK.  'The alternative is that the police and security agencies are left fighting with one arm tied behind their backs'. Lord Walney, a former UK Government independent adviser on political violence and disruption, also called on the new Prime Minister to react in the wake of the revelation.  He said: 'Anyone sanctioned by the United States for links to Hamas should be nowhere near the British Parliament, never mind being hosted by an MP for the governing party.  'New Prime Minister Andy Burnham must show zero tolerance for anyone who seeks to support or excuse this vile Islamist terror group who revel in the massacre of Jewish people'. Meanwhile Labour MP David Taylor, who represents Hemel Hempstead, said the decision by his own party colleagues to invite Abukishek to Parliament was 'grossly irresponsible'. He said: 'It is disgraceful that a man allegedly linked to a proscribed terror group was invited by MPs into the heart of our democracy.  'Providing a platform that legitimises extremist ideology is nothing less than grossly irresponsible, and it is deeply worrying that this is far from the first occasion this sort of thing has occurred.  'I hope the Speaker of the House will urgently investigate this matter. It should not be allowed to happen again'. In a comment provided to the Mail, Mr Duncan-Jordan confirmed he had supported the meeting for the Global Sumud Flotilla, 'a group of British and international aid volunteers who have alleged torture and sexual violence at the hands of the Israeli Defence Force.' He said that one of his constituents had taken part in an earlier flotilla and he 'wanted to ensure aid volunteers had the opportunity to speak about their experiences.' Mr Duncan-Jordan added: 'The Trump administration has characterised the Global Sumud Flotilla as a 'terror flotilla'. This is contested by the Global Sumud Flotilla. 'UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan said at the time 'It is not a crime to show solidarity and attempt to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza, who are in dire need of it.' 'For my part, I condemn violence and have consistently called for an end to this conflict and for a resolution grounded in human rights for all people in the region.' Global Sumud Flotilla UK told Daily Mail that Abukishek had been 'targeted' as 'part of a longstanding effort by the far-right Israeli government to discredit Palestinians and those who speak up against the genocide in Gaza.' It added: 'The US Treasury's allegations are false and part of a concerted campaign to silence human rights defenders.  'Saif was one of many international volunteers taking medicine and food to Gaza in April and May this year. Along with British flotilla volunteers, he was violently assaulted by Israeli soldiers when they boarded flotilla ships.  'Saif was then forcibly taken to an Israeli prison earlier this year, along with another flotilla volunteer, where he was tortured and then released by an Israeli court without charge.  'No criminal action has been taken against Saif or PCPA, which is a diaspora organisation and in no way linked to terrorism. Saif has no links to terrorism.' GSF UK added that it was 'false' to describe the aid flotilla and its volunteers as 'pro-terror'. Mr Abukishek told the Daily Mail: 'These sanctions are political, not judicial. I was never charged with any offence, never given an opportunity to respond, and never able to challenge the allegations through any legal process. The Israeli authorities detained me and produced no evidence that resulted in any legal proceedings against me. A political designation was issued instead. 'The circumstances surrounding my invitation to Parliament, and my response to these sanctions, have already been addressed publicly. My position has not changed. 'The Members of Parliament who invited me knew exactly who I am and why they invited me. They invited me to hear firsthand about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the Global Sumud Flotilla's efforts to challenge the blockade through nonviolent civil action. They made their own judgement and did not allow a foreign government's political designation to determine who they could engage with. 'The real question is not why I was invited to Parliament. The real question is whether elected representatives in a democracy should allow politically motivated sanctions issued by a foreign government, without any judicial finding or opportunity for due process, to determine who they are permitted to meet and hear from. 'Members of Parliament are capable of making their own decisions about who they engage with. That responsibility belongs to them, not to any foreign government.' Daily Mail also contacted the Labour Party.