Statement by Palestinian Civil Society Organizations in Israel on the U.S. Sanctioning of Leading Palestinian Organizations

Yesterday evening, 4 September 2025, the U.S. administration added to its sanctions list the renowned Palestinian human rights organizations and our close partners, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Al-Haq, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). This decision, amid a nearly two-year genocide in Gaza, is illegal; by targeting organizations documenting these crimes, the U.S. enables Israeli violence while shielding Israel from accountability. For decades, these organizations have been at the forefront of exposing Israel’s systematic violations of international law and pursuing justice before international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). The undersigned organizations strongly condemn this punitive and politically motivated attack.

These measures are deliberately designed to shield Israel from accountability, silence opposition to its mass atrocities, and undermine the ability of Palestinians to defend themselves and advance their rights through legitimate legal means. This move by the United States shows its full support for Israel’s campaign against Palestinian civil society, which has sought to delegitimize, criminalize, and ultimately dismantle the very organizations working to uphold human rights and accountability.

Al Mezan, Al-Haq, and PCHR are internationally respected institutions whose work has been recognized and supported by global human rights defenders, legal experts, and international organizations. Attacking them is not only an assault on Palestinians but also a direct attack on the global human rights movement and on the ICC and its mission of ending impunity.

We call on the international community, including governments, civil society actors, particularly U.S. civil society, and human rights institutions, to: condemn this sanctioning as illegal; demand its immediate revocation; ensure the safety and protection of their staff (particularly those working in the occupied territory); actively defend the right of Palestinians to seek justice and accountability under international law; and urge EU countries specifically to enact and enforce the EU blocking statute to protect organizations and individuals from the extraterritorial effects of these sanctions.

Signatories:

7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel

Baladna – Arab Youth Association

Intimaa’ wa A’taa (Belonging and Giving) Association

Kayan – Feminist Organization

Mada al-Carmel – Arab Center for Applied Social Research

Mossawa Center- The advocacy Center for Arab Citizens

Nazareth Nurseries Institute – Al-Tufula

The Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP)

The Arab Culture Association

The Movement of Democratic Women

Tishreen Association

Women Against Violence