The US has imposed sanctions on three prominent Palestinian rights groups; Al-Haq, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, adding them to the Department of the Treasury’s “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.”
In a subsequent statement, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that US has sanctioned the three groups for engaging in what he called the International Criminal Court’s“illegitimate targeting of Israel.”
He added that the rights groups were targeted for having “directly engaged in efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals, without Israel’s consent.”
“The United States will continue to respond with significant and tangible consequences to protect our troops, our sovereignty, and our allies from the ICC’s disregard for sovereignty, and to punish entities that are complicit in its overreach.”
Marco Rubio
In November 2023, the three groups filed a lawsuit with the ICC asking the Prosecutor to investigate Israel for airstrikes on densely populated areas in Gaza, the siege of the territory, the forced displacement of its population, the use of toxic gas and the denial of necessities, including food and water.
The organizations also urged the ICC to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli leaders involved in actions they said amounted to “war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide.”
All three groups had provided evidence on Israeli abuses in the case.
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant for war crimes, including “starvation as a method of warfare” and crimes against humanity.
The court also issued a warrant for Hamas official Mohammed Deif, who Israel said was one of the masterminds of the October 7 attack. Israel said Deif was killed in an airstrike last year.
The Ramallah-based Al-Haq has been a leading organisation both in the occupied Palestinian territory and internationally seeking accountability for Israeli abuses, while leading litigation in several countries.
The Gaza City-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights have been leading independent organisation that have documented Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
US Sanctions Slammed
In a statement shared by all three organisations, they condemned “in the strongest terms the draconian sanctions” imposed by the Trump administration.
The statement noted that these measures “in times of live genocide against our People, is a coward[ly], immoral, illegal and undemocratic act.”
It added that only states with “complete disregard to international law and our shared humanity can take such heinous measures” against human rights organisations working to end a genocide.
“As the world moves to impose sanctions and arms embargoes on Israel; its ally, the US is working to destroy Palestinian institutions working tirelessly for accountability for the victims of Israel’s mass atrocity crimes.”
Palestinian rights groups statement
Also, Amnesty International called the US decision to impose sanctions a “deeply troubling and shameful assault on human rights and the global pursuit of justice.”
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns said in a statement, “These organizations carry out vital and courageous work, meticulously documenting human rights violations under the most horrifying conditions.”
“This decision also starkly exposes the Trump administration’s deliberate efforts to dismantle the very foundation of international justice and shield Israel from accountability for its crimes.”
Erika Guevara-Rosas
In a post on the social media platform X, Mohsen Farshneshani, a sanctions lawyer and advisor at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), described the organisations as “three of the most prominent Palestinian human rights groups.”
“Shameful but not surprising. This administration bends over backwards to put Israel First every time.”
Mohsen Farshneshani
President Donald Trump’s administration has waged a campaign to punish organizations involved in the ICC’s efforts to investigate Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.
The Trump administration had previously sanctioned the ICC in response to its investigation and subsequent arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.
The US previously sanctioned the Ramallah-based Addameer, a human rights organisation focused on Palestinian prisoners and detainees, in June.
In July, the Trump administration also sanctioned the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers the occupied West Bank, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which represents Palestinians internationally.
At the same time, the Trump administration has revoked sanctions imposed under former US President Joe Biden on Israelis from illegal settlements and organisations accused of violence.
READ ALSO: Minority Leader Calls for Shake-Up to Restore Trust in Ghana’s Democracy
