Summary
- The US sanctioned three Palestinian human rights groups on Thursday.
- Groups include Al-Haq, Al-Mezan Center, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.
- Sanctions follow their request for ICC investigation of Israel.
- The US labels their actions as illegitimate targeting of Israel.
The Treasury Department has taken action against the three organizations—Al-Haq in Ramallah, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights—under authorities related to the International Criminal Court.
In November, the three organizations reported to the ICC on Israeli airstrikes against crowded civilian areas in Gaza, the siege in that area, and displacement of the population.
A year later, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump sanctioned the ICC prosecutor and ICC judges for those arrest warrants issued by Israel.
Among states parties, the United States, China, Russia and Israel and some of the states parties do not recognize its authority.
Days after the largest academic association of genocide researchers in the world passed a resolution stating that the legal requirements to prove Israel is committing genocide in Gaza have been satisfied, the United States imposed sanctions on Palestinian organizations.
The announcement was deemed shameful and "entirely based on Hamas' campaign of lies" by Israel.
In October 2023, Israel began its war on the Gaza Strip after 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages were taken back into Gaza by fighters from Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization that controls the region.
What legal effects do ICC-related sanctions have on NGOs’ operations?
Sanctions generally include asset seizures, prohibited funding transfers, and prohibited provision of financial services which in effect severely diminish NGOs’ abilities to receive funding, pay staff, obtain supplies, and conduct regular operations that are a necessary component of NGO work.
In practice; many financial institutions and donors (for example, international agencies and foundations) will likely avoid working with any sanctioned NGOs or individuals due to fears over secondary sanctions or any legal implications. This reduces an NGOs ability to access funding and banking services.
Sanctioned NGOs often have difficulties sustaining partnerships with other international NGOs, multilateral agencies and bodies, and/or even just other local NGOs, which limits their ability to conduct cross-border advocacy, research, and humanitarian action.