America Imposes Sanctions on 3 Palestinian Human Rights Organizations

SadaNews - The U.S. Department of the Treasury's website showed today, Thursday, that Washington has imposed sanctions on three Palestinian human rights organizations.

The United States has designated the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, both based in the Gaza Strip, along with the Al-Haq Foundation, based in Ramallah, in what the ministry stated are classifications related to the International Criminal Court.

On June 11, the U.S. administration imposed sanctions on a leading Palestinian human rights organization, along with five charities in the Middle East and Europe, accusing them of supporting Palestinian militants, including Hamas.

The targeted human rights organization at that time was "Addameer," which provides legal services to Palestinians detained by Israel or the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, and monitors their conditions.

Israel had previously accused the foundation of diverting aid to militants.

The U.S. Treasury Department stated in a statement that the Addameer Foundation "has long supported the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and is affiliated with it," adding that the armed wing of the front has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis.

The United States and the European Union classify the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine as a "terrorist" organization.

In 2022, Israel raided the offices of the Addameer Foundation and other organizations in the West Bank, alleging connections to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

On July 31, the United States imposed sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, accusing the latter of taking steps "to internationalize their conflict with Israel," according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State.

The statement added that this step prevents those targeted by the sanctions from obtaining travel visas to the United States, as reported by Reuters.

The statement read: "It is in our national security interest to impose consequences and hold the PLO and the Palestinian Authority accountable for failing to comply with their commitments and undermining peace prospects."

The announcement of the U.S. sanctions comes as several countries, including France, have pledged to recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meetings in September, which has angered both Israel and the United States, viewing the move as a "reward" for Hamas.

Washington accused the Palestinian Authority and the "PLO" of "continuing to support terrorism, including by inciting and glorifying violence." It also accused them of "supporting actions within international organizations that undermine and contradict previous commitments," according to reports from AFP.

The Palestinian Authority, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, administers the occupied West Bank, while the "Palestine Liberation Organization," established in 1964, is the founding movement representing the Palestinians.