# IHH led flotilla to Gaza

In April 2024, the IHH (Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief), a Turkish government backed GONGO is planning to launch a convoy of ships to Gaza. IHH is part of the ttilaf al-Khair foundation, an Islamic charity organization that backs the militant group Hamas and the Union of good. In April 2024, IHH organised a shipment of equipment and aid for Hamas run Gaza Strip. IHH according to Jean-Louis Bruguiere, who was the head of the France’s anti terrorism unit and coordinator for the European Union in a terrorism finance tracking program jointly run with the United States, has ties to Al Qaeda and terror plots in the United States. IHH has also been accused of trafficking arms in Libya. IHH had organised a shipment of aid in 2010 which was intercepted by the Israeli Navy during which 10 Turkish IHH activists were killed after clashing with the IDF.
The 2024 shipment included ships from Lebanon, Libya and Turkey. The Turkish government backed shipment occurred after earlier in April the Turkish parliament called “Death to Israel” and Turkish president Erdogan said Israel was worse than Nazi Germany.

## Background

IHH has ties to Al Qaeda, including plots such as the attempted Al Qaeda bombing of Los Angeles international airport in 1999 according to NBC. IHH has been accused of trafficking arms in Libya. IHH is supported by the Turkish government. In the 1990s, IHH members joined combatants in Bosnia and Chechnya.
Jean-Louis Bruguiere, an investigative judge who led France’s anti terrorism unit for almost 20 years and then was the coordinator for the European Union in a terrorism finance tracking program jointly run with the United States told the Associated Press in a telephone interview that IHH has long standing ties to terrorism and Jihad. The judge said IHH assisted Al Qaeda when Osama Bin Laden wished to strike American targets. Several members had direct ties to Al Qaeda, pointing to members of the Fateh Kamel cell who worked in IHH. IHH denies ties to organizations deemed terror organisations by the United States and the European Union.
In 1998 a French and Turkish police raid in Istanbul on IHH offices found weapons and incriminating documents. US terrorism expert Evan F. Kohlmann said in a 2006 report that it was suspected the IHH chief Bulent Yildrim was “recruiting for Jihad”. Al khair foundation, (the organization to which IHH pertains) following the October 7th attack had done crowdfunding for Hamas.
IHH is of interest to several security intelligence agencies due to linkage with terror groups according to the Guardian. Former British commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Richard Kemp described the activists in an IHH mission as “violent activists”.
In 2008 the organization was outlawed by then Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak due to its membership in the "Union of Good” a muslim brotherhood organization of multiple charities that was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasurey due to it’s funding of Hamas. The IHH had established close relations with Erdogan’s AKP party that had formed the Turkish government during most of the 21st century and had assisted Erdogan in attaining Muslim conservative support in elections.
IHH had organised a shipment of aid to Hamas run Gaza Strip in 2010 without coordination and permission from Israel. The shipment was intercepted by the Israeli Navy during which several IHH activists were killed after clashing with the IDF. In 2011 the United Nations Palmer report found that Israeli action was legal and in 2016 Turkey withdraw legal action against Israeli officers involved in the action. The IHH was accused of weapons trafficking in Libya and of advancing Turkish interests in the Syrian civil war.
In 2010, IHH offices were closed in Germany for supporting and providing funds for Hamas.
In September 2023, Israel intercepted 16 tons of explosives from Turkey to Gaza.
The Turkish government backed shipment was planend to set out after earlier in April 2024 the Turkish parliament called “Death to Israel” and Turkish president Erdogan said Israel was worse than Nazi Germany. The Turkish president said it will host the leader of Hamas, considered a terrorist organization in the United States and the European Union, in Turkey. Turkish president Erdogan in the same event blamed Zionist operators for orchestrating coups in Turkey since the 1980s.