In September 2025, the United States government imposed sanctions on three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations: Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). This decision, announced by the US Department of Treasury under Executive Order 14203, targets these organizations for their cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations into alleged war crimes by Israeli officials in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The decision ignited strong condemnation from UN experts, human rights advocates, and the targeted organizations themselves. They assert that these sanctions represent a deliberate attack on international justice mechanisms and an attempt to silence crucial human rights defenders exposing abuses in Palestine.
Background: Context and Purpose of the Sanctions
The US sanctions came within the context of ongoing ICC investigations into Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, including airstrikes on civilian areas, forced displacement, and restrictions causing humanitarian crises. The three Palestinian groups have provided vital evidence on alleged violations, contributing to calls for accountability.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the move, saying the organizations “have engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, or prosecute Israeli nationals without Israel’s consent,” framing the sanctions as measures to protect US allies and national sovereignty.
These organizations have long histories of advocating for Palestinian rights, documenting human rights abuses by all parties, and interfacing with international bodies to seek justice. The sanctions freeze their assets and bar associated individuals from entry to the United States.
UN Experts’ Strong Condemnation
UN human rights experts collectively condemned the sanctions as a “direct attack on international justice.” In a joint statement, they asserted, “These three organisations are among the oldest and most effective and reliable in covering human rights violations and abuses by all parties in the occupied Palestinian territories.” The experts highlighted their importance in documenting violations, submitting evidence to ICC processes, and providing support to victims in extremely difficult circumstances.
The timing of the sanctions drew particular criticism as they coincided with global outrage over Israeli military operations in Gaza resulting in civilian casualties, destruction of critical infrastructure, and humanitarian blockades. UN experts stressed sanctions against groups exposing such abuses constitute a “blatant violation of the rights to freedom of expression and association.” Furthermore, they warned that these punitive measures serve to “silence pro-Palestine voices and hinder international accountability.”
Response from Human Rights Organizations and Advocates
The targeted Palestinian rights groups denounced the US sanctions as “cowardly, immoral, illegal, and undemocratic.” In a joint statement, Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and PCHR condemned the sanctions vociferously, asserting these moves protect “Israel’s settler-colonial apartheid regime and unlawful occupation.” They called on the global community to rally in solidarity against such attempts to suppress accountability and obstruct justice for Palestinians.
Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Director, Liz Evenson, described the sanctions as “a cruel and vindictive effort to punish those simply advocating for victims of serious crimes.” She urged ICC member states to oppose the US’s campaign undermining international law and the work of human rights defenders.
Advocacy groups also noted that the sanctions follow previous US actions penalizing Palestinian prisoners’ support groups and UN human rights officials, highlighting a consistent trend of targeting pro-Palestine civil society.
Legal and International Law Perspectives
Legal experts, including members of the Law Society of the UK and the American Bar Association, criticized the sanctions for weakening international justice frameworks. They argued that sanctioning human rights organizations interferes with victims’ right to access justice and compromises the independence of legal institutions.
These sanctions, seen as political tools, pose a risk of marginalizing essential evidence and hindering the ICC’s investigations into serious violations. Al-Haq and its partners have repeatedly presented evidence of war crimes and grave breaches of international law, including documentation of airstrikes on densely populated civilian areas, forced displacement, and humanitarian strangulation in Gaza.
Impacts on Palestinian Civil Society
The sanctions disrupt the operations of these vital human rights groups, impeding service delivery to vulnerable communities, curtailing advocacy efforts, and restricting fundraising capabilities. Employees and associated volunteers face increased scrutiny and limited mobility, threatening their ability to operate in already challenging circumstances.
This escalation severely damages Palestinian civil society’s capacity to document violations and support victims at a time when international accountability is crucial. It also discourages cooperation with multilateral institutions by marginalized groups fearing further reprisals.
International and Regional Reactions
The sanctions met condemnation from the European Union, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and other international human rights bodies. They called on the US to rescind measures that detract from justice and human rights protection.
Within Palestine and wider Arab and Muslim countries, there were expressions of outrage, viewing the sanctions as part of a broader strategy to shield Israel from accountability and perpetuate its control over occupied territories.
Political Motivations and Consequences
These sanctions reveal how geopolitical considerations intertwine with human rights advocacy. The US aims to shield its ally Israel from ICC investigations perceived as politically motivated, using economic and diplomatic power to stifle evidence and testimony.
Such moves, however, jeopardize international legal standards and undermine the universality of human rights. They also exacerbate the suffering of Palestinian civilians by weakening organizations working to expose abuses and pushing accountability narratives nationally and internationally.
The sanctions risk setting a troubling precedent for other governments to emulate, targeting human rights defenders whose work challenges state actions or geopolitical interests.
The Need for Solidarity and Justice
The US sanctions against Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and PCHR mark a significant challenge to international human rights and justice systems. UN experts, international organizations, and legal bodies warn that this undermines essential accountability mechanisms and silences voices crucial to exposing abuses.
Protecting these organizations and supporting their work is vital for upholding the rights of Palestinians and reinforcing global commitments to justice and human dignity.
