US Drops Bombshell Sanctions on Palestinian NGOs - Here’s What You Must Know
Washington sanctions Al-Haq, Al-Mezan, and PCHR for helping the ICC pursue Israeli officials—marking a new front in the global clash over sovereignty and justice.
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The U.S. government just delivered a sharp rebuke to three leading Palestinian civil-society organizations, Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), by placing them under sweeping diplomatic and economic sanctions.
These groups had actively supported the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza, a move that led to arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The U.S., which alongside Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, condemned the ICC’s actions as politically motivated and undermining national sovereignty.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the administration’s position, stating: “We oppose the ICC's politicized agenda, overreach, and disregard for the sovereignty of the United States and that of our allies”, calling the ICC’s actions a dangerous precedent and pledging to actively oppose threats to U.S. and allied sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department added these organizations to its “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List,” imposing measures that severely restrict their financial operations and international engagement.
Far Left Amnesty International denounced the move as a “deeply troubling and shameful assault on human rights and the global pursuit of justice.” It emphasized that these NGOs serve as the vital voice of Palestinians and that the sanctions represent a calculated blow to accountability and international law.