US Sanctions Three Palestinian Human Rights Groups Over ICC Israel Probe

The Trump administration has sanctioned three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations—Al-Haq, the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights—citing their involvement with the International Criminal Court's efforts to investigate Israeli nationals without Israel's consent. These sanctions freeze any assets the organizations hold in the US and prohibit transactions in US dollars, with additional potential impacts on their international engagement. The groups strongly condemned the sanctions, describing them as immoral, illegal, and cowardly acts occurring amid ongoing violence in Gaza. US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, justified the sanctions as necessary to protect US sovereignty, troops, and allies from what they view as the ICC's politicized overreach. The move follows earlier US actions against the ICC and coincides with increased international scrutiny of Israel's military actions in Gaza, including genocide allegations by genocide scholars. Critics argue the sanctions serve to shield Israel from accountability by undermining Palestinian institutions advocating for human rights and justice.