Amin Abu Rashid

Amin Abu Rashid
(aka Amin Abu-Ibrahim)
Born 1966/1967 (age 47–48)
Ethnicity Palestinian
Citizenship Dutch

Amin Abu Rashid, nicknamed "Amin Abu-Ibrahim" (born 1966/1967 (age 47–48)), is a Palestinian-Dutch national,[1][2][3][4] best known for his activism for Hamas and Gaza-bound flotillas.

According to a U.S. government exhibit and other sources, Rashid was a member of the Al-Aqsa Foundation in Rotterdam. The al-Aqsa Foundation has been described by the United States as a "critical part of Hamas' transnational terrorist support infrastructure" which "uses humanitarian relief as cover to provide support to the Hamas terrorist organization". In May 2003 the al-Aqsa Foundation was designated by the United States Department of the Treasury as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity.[5][6][7] As a result of this designation, all assets of the al-Aqsa Foundation have been blocked. Other nations, including the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg and Switzerland, have also banned the al-Aqsa Foundation.[5]

In 2009, the Palestine News Network reported that Rashid was the Secretary General of the Popular Forum in the Netherlands.[1]

In December 2009, Middle East Monitor described him as the head of a delegation from the Conference of Palestinians in Europe.[8]

Role in Gaza-bound flotillas

De Telegraaf reported in June 2011 that Rashid, who the paper described as the "brain" behind the flotilla, helped arrange the purchase of a Dutch ship for use in the flotilla, allegedly organized the majority of the funding for the flotilla, and had been seen training with the flotilla crew in Greece.[3]

As a second flotilla was being formed in June 2011, Israeli Public Affairs and Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein said that:

The participation of Hamas member Amin Abu Rashid in the flotilla, who is known for fundraising money for Hamas terror operations, is clear proof that this is not a humanitarian flotilla, but a provocation and a terror operation in disguise of a flotilla. In the previous flotilla, Abu Rashid expressed his intentions to clash with IDF soldiers and we must take into account that this will be his intention in the current flotilla.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "European campaign denies reports by some media that President Abbas is working against them". Palestine News Network. July 11, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  2. ↑ "M.O. Due terroristi a bordo della nave turca Mavi Marmara". l'Occidentale. June 11, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Roiphe, Anne (June 30, 2011). "'Hamas leader is brain behind Dutch flotilla'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ Ronen Bergman (June 11, 2010). "'Israel freed top terrorists caught on flotilla'". Ynetnews. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Treasury Designates Al-Aqsa International Foundation as Financier of Terror - Charity Linked to Funding of the Hamas Terrorist Organization" (Press release). United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Public Affairs. 2003-05-29.
  6. ↑ US v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, et al. Exhibit 001-0357, as cited by "The Influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Netherlands", NEFA Report, 2007.
  7. ↑ Olmer, Bart. "Moslimclub op terreurlijst", De Telegraaf, 27 April 2011 (in Dutch)
  8. ↑ Quds Press (December 30, 2009). "European supporters of Gaza ask their embassies in Cairo for help to get to the Strip". Middleeastmonitor.org.uk. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  9. ↑ Roiphe, Anne (June 30, 2011). "Edelstein: Hamas member in flotilla shows intent to provoke". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved July 1, 2011.