US Sanctions Against Palestinian NGOs: A Blatant Attack on Human Rights

The United States has sanctioned three Palestinian human rights organizations—Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights—citing their involvement in supporting an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

The U.S. Treasury Department placed the groups on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, targeting entities that have assisted the ICC’s efforts to investigate Israeli officials without Israel’s consent. These actions follow a succession of U.S. measures against the ICC, including sanctions on its judges and prosecutor under Executive Order 14203, issued in February 2025.

Amnesty International strongly condemned the decision. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, called the move “a deeply troubling and shameful assault on human rights and the global pursuit of justice.” She emphasized that these NGOs “carry out vital and courageous work… amplifying stories of human suffering that would otherwise remain unheard.”

Amnesty further warned that the sanctions constitute “a brazen attack on the entire Palestinian human rights movement” and represent an effort to “shield Israel from accountability for its crimes.” The organization urged the global human rights community to resist and called on states to unequivocally oppose this assault on civil society.

The targeted groups have played a central role in documenting Israeli military operations in Gaza, including airstrikes and sieges, which the ICC has deemed potentially war crimes. By targeting these organizations, the U.S. is not just stifling civil society—it is actively dismantling the architecture that supports truth, justice, and reparations.

Now, more than ever, the international community must stand with Palestinian civil society—not deter them. Sanctioned today are not just three organizations, but the very ideals of justice, accountability, and human dignity.

Source: Amnesty International | Reuters | Al Jazeera