Though the Palestinian propaganda machine continues to dominate much of the mainstream media’s depiction of the “Free Gaza” flotilla as a group of humanitarians, the truth about this organization and its goals is gradually becoming better known. While the weapons on board and the bloody attacks on Israeli soldiers belied the claim that those on board were helpless victims, the Investigative Project on Terrorism offers an instructive report on the Turkish-based organization behind the flotilla. According to the report, the IHH has “deep, longstanding ties” to Hamas and has also been linked to Islamist terrorists in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Chechnya. The fact that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a supporter of the group is all the more reason to worry about Turkey’s shift toward the Islamists and away from the West.

This week Sen. Charles Schumer wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and asked the State Department to investigate the ties between the IHH, al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups. Other members of Congress should second this call. The only reasonable conclusion that could be drawn from such an investigation is that the IHH should be placed on the United States list of known terrorist organizations.