REPORT: Jaldia Abubakra – The activist sanctioned by the US for her links to Palestinian terrorism who operates freely in Spain

Executive Summary

• The US Department of the Treasury has sanctioned Jaldía Abubakra and other naturalised Spanish Palestinians for their direct ties to Palestinian terrorist networks (Samidoun, the PFLP, Masar Badil and the pro-Hamas flotilla).[1] This proves that these activists, despite holding Spanish nationality, continue to maintain operational links with organisations designated as terrorist by the United States and Canada.
• These activists have enjoyed explicit backing and cover from parties such as Podemos, IU and the communist wing of the Government, who have brought them into the Congress of Deputies, presented them as “authoritative voices” and supported or taken part in demonstrations called by Samidoun — even when those events glorified terrorism and chanted in support of terrorist groups such as the “Lion’s Den”.[18] It is shocking that the Government Delegation in Madrid authorised these gatherings despite prior warnings from ACOM.[14][15][16]
• ACOM has repeatedly denounced Abubakra and Samidoun in Spain for glorification of terrorism and incitement to antisemitic hatred. The complaints were archived or dismissed by Central Investigating Court No. 5 and upheld on appeal by the National Court (Ruling 648/2024 of 20 December 2024).
• In response to the decisive action by the US Treasury Department, ACOM has immediately activated its legal team and will file a new complaint with the Civil Guard.[19] We will continue legal action in Spain so that the American initiative has its necessary counterpart here and the impunity with which these networks operate in Spanish institutions, parliament and media comes to an end.

On 19 May 2026, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned four key individuals linked to the pro-Hamas flotilla and Palestinian terrorist networks.[1] Among them are Jaldía Abubakra Aueda (coordinator of Samidoun in Madrid), her close collaborator Mohammed Khatib (European coordinator of Samidoun, based in Belgium), Saif Hashim Kamel Abukishek and Hisham Abdallah Sulayman Abu Mahfuz.

Abubakra is the founder of Samidoun Spain (2020), national coordinator of the organisation in our country, founder of the feminist collective Alkarama (Palestinian Women’s Movement) and a member of the executive committee of Masar Badil, a movement that openly defends Palestinian terrorism.

Her record of public appearances is particularly serious. In June 2024 she took part in an event in the Congress of Deputies organised and presented by Unidas Podemos (with the direct participation of MP Ione Belarra),[2] where she explicitly defended the Palestinian people’s right to “armed struggle” and glorified the savage terrorist attacks of 7 October — a massacre that left more than 1,200 dead (the vast majority civilians), more than 250 kidnapped and hundreds wounded.

For those statements in the Congress of Deputies, Abubakra received several criminal complaints for glorification of terrorism and humiliation of the victims, and was therefore required to testify before the National Court in October 2024.[3]

With Ione Belarra, Secretary General of Podemos and Former Minister of Social Rights in Pedro Sánchez’s government

The organisation Acción y Comunicación sobre Oriente Medio (ACOM) has been particularly active in the judicial denunciation of these actions. In February 2024 it filed a complaint before Central Investigating Court No. 5 for glorification of terrorism (art. 578 of the Criminal Code) and provocation to terror (art. 573).[19] The court ordered a provisional dismissal on 5 March 2024. After several extensions of the complaint (including Abubakra’s appearance in Congress and other subsequent events), the judge refused to reopen the case on 31 October 2024. ACOM’s appeal was dismissed by the Third Section of the Criminal Chamber of the National Court in Ruling 648/2024 of 20 December 2024. The Court expressly recognised that “the facts are morally reprehensible”, but considered that there was no situation of risk to persons or the rights of third parties, nor to the democratic system itself, sufficient to make them criminally punishable. This does not prevent new legal actions from being brought in the event of fresh incidents. ACOM has also filed various complaints against Samidoun as an organisation for incitement to antisemitic hatred and apology for terrorism.[19]

This is not her only disturbing connection. Documented sources confirm her direct participation in activities with activists linked to the PFLP and Hezbollah environment. In July 2021 she was part of Samidoun’s “Ghassan Kanafani Brigade” delegation that travelled to Lebanon.[4] There they visited the offices of the PFLP, met with members of the terrorist organisation and paid homage to terrorists from the group. Her sanctioned colleague Mohammed Khatib, European coordinator of Samidoun, shares with her exactly the same leadership role in the terrorist network designated by the US and Canada. The organisation has also been completely outlawed in Germany since November 2023, designated a terrorist organisation by Israel since February 2021, and faces partial measures (entry bans for leaders and parliamentary resolutions) in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Added to this is her meeting with the Iranian embassy in Madrid: in June 2025 she headed a Masar Badil delegation that was officially received by Iranian Ambassador Reza Zabib.[5]

With the ambassador of the Islamic regime of Iran in Spain

Abubakra also took part in the demonstration on 29 October 2023 in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, called by Samidoun. A video disseminated by ACOM (with Arabic music in the background) shows Samidoun/Alkarama activists chanting “Long live the Lion’s Den!”, a Palestinian terrorist group active in Nablus.[6] ACOM repeatedly warned the Government Delegation about the nature of the gathering and the risk of apology for terrorism, requesting that it be banned for glorifying terrorist acts, but the demonstration was authorised anyway.[14][15][16]

Minister of Youth in Pedro Sánchez’s government

It is deeply worrying that people with direct links to Palestinian terrorist organisations can call, participate in and incite mobs against Jews in Spain from Puerta del Sol itself, with the backing of the Government Delegation. A clear example was the demonstration of 15 October 2023, also called by Samidoun and supported by the communist wing of the Government: leaders such as Ione Belarra (then Minister of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda) and Irene Montero (then Minister of Equality) and their parties openly supported or took part in events organised by networks sanctioned for terrorism.[18]

ACOM will continue to monitor these activities and will not rest until the rule of law in Spain is applied equally and without exception to those who glorify terrorism and incite hatred, regardless of the passport they hold.

With a Sumar and Podemos MP, governing partners of Sánchez.

References / Full list of links

[1] U.S. Department of the Treasury – “Treasury Sanctions Key Individuals Linked to Pro-Hamas Flotilla and Palestinian Terrorist Networks” (19 May 2026) → https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0501

[2] El Confidencial – “Podemos brings to Congress activists who vindicate Hamas killings” (4 June 2024) → https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2024-06-04/podemos-congreso-conferencias-palestina-activistas-reivindican-asesinatos-hamas_3895561/

[3] La Marea – “Pro-Palestinian activists testify at the National Court for glorification of terrorism” (29 October 2024) → https://www.lamarea.com/2024/10/29/activistas-propalestinas-declaran-audiencia-enaltecimiento-terrorismo/

[4] Samidoun – “Video: Lebanon in Crisis – Palestinians and Lebanese in Resistance (Report of the Ghassan Kanafani Brigade)” (2021) → https://samidoun.net/2021/10/video-lebanon-in-crisis-palestinians-and-lebanese-in-resistance-report-of-ghassan-kanafani-brigade/

[5] Masar Badil – Official statement of the delegation received at the Iranian embassy (June 2025) → https://masarbadil.org/es/2025/06/5948/

[6] OKDIARIO – “The National Court opens investigation into a group close to Yolanda Díaz for praising Hamas” (2024) → https://okdiario.com/espana/audiencia-nacional-abre-investigacion-grupo-proximo-yolanda-diaz-ensalzar-hamas-querella-12409532

[7] RTVE – “Jaldía Abubakra, Popular Unity candidate for the 20-D elections, is released in Gaza” (17 December 2015) → https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20151217/liberan-gaza-a-jaldia-abubakra-candidata-unidad-popular-elecciones-del-20/1276086.shtml

[8] TRT Español – Article defending Jaldía Abubakra as a victim of a “far-right scheme” → https://www.trtespanol.com/article/1493224700

[9] RTVE – “Two States is not the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli problem” (interview with Jaldía Abubakra, 22 May 2024) → https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20240522/dos-estados-no-solucion-problema-palestina-israel/16114710.shtml

[10] elDiario.es – “Jaldía Abubakra: ‘We do not let suffering paralyse us and we fight it by raising awareness’” → https://www.eldiario.es/la-rioja/jaldia-abubakra-no-dejamos-que-el-sufrimiento-nos-paralice-y-lo-combatimos-creando-conciencia_1_11205031.html

[11] Público – “IU’s pressure succeeds in getting candidate Jaldía Abubakra out of Gaza” → https://www.publico.es/actualidad/presion-iu-consigue-candidata-jaldia-abubakra-logre-salir-gaza-retenida.html

[12] Cadena SER – “Jaldía Abubakra, the Palestinian voice that will arrive in Lugo to dismantle disinformation and ignite collective conscience” (10 March 2026) → https://cadenaser.com/galicia/2026/03/10/jaldia-abubakra-la-voz-palestina-que-llegara-a-lugo-para-desmontar-la-desinformacion-y-encender-la-conciencia-colectiva-radio-lugo/

[13] OKDIARIO – “Two Podemos MEPs support Palestinian terrorist prisoners and applaud the ‘armed struggle’” (8 July 2020) → https://okdiario.com/espana/dos-eurodiputados-podemos-apoyan-presos-terroristas-palestinos-aplauden-lucha-armada-5863468

[14] ACOM – “ACOM requests the Madrid Government Delegation to disallow an act glorifying terrorism” (18 January 2024) → https://a-com.es/acom-solicita-a-la-delegacion-de-gobierno-de-madrid-que-desautorice-acto-glorificador-del-terrorismo/

[15] ACOM – “ACOM takes the Madrid Government Delegation to court” (24 January 2024) → https://a-com.es/acom-lleva-a-los-tribunales-la-delegacion-de-gobierno-de-madrid/

[16] ACOM – “The TSJ admits ACOM’s reconsideration appeal against the ruling that allowed a pro-terrorist demonstration authorised by the Madrid Government Delegation” (13 May 2024) → https://a-com.es/el-tsj-admite-recurso-de-reposicion-de-acom-contra-auto-que-permitia-manifestacion-pro-terrorista-autorizada-por-la-delegacion-de-gobierno-de-madrid/

[17] ACOM – “The glorification of terrorism permitted by the Spanish Government” → https://a-com.es/el-enaltecimiento-del-terrorismo-que-permite-el-gobierno-de-espana/

[18] OKDIARIO – “Shouts of ‘Israel murderer!’ at the Madrid demonstration supported by the communist wing of the Government” (15 October 2023) → https://okdiario.com/espana/gritos-israel-asesino-manifestacion-madrid-apoyada-ala-comunista-del-gobierno-11735741

[19] ACOM – “ACOM initiates legal actions against Samidoun” (26 January 2024) → https://a-com.es/acom-inicia-acciones-legales-contra-samidoun