US sanctions Gaza flotilla organisers in move critics call 'terrorism label' abuse
Washington freezes assets of four activists based in Jordan, Spain, and Belgium, alleging without evidence they support Hamas, while rights groups warn of chilling effects on Palestinian diaspora communities.
The United States has imposed sanctions on four activists involved in aid flotillas attempting to break Israel’s siege on Gaza, alleging without evidence that the organisers support Hamas. The measures, announced on Tuesday, target two representatives from the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) and two from the Palestinian prisoners solidarity network Samidoun. The designated individuals are based in Jordan, Spain, and Belgium.
The sanctions freeze the activists’ assets in the US and prohibit Americans from conducting business with them. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the flotillas as a "pro-terror" attempt to undermine President Donald Trump’s peace progress. "The pro-terror flotilla attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region," Bessent said, adding that the Treasury would continue to sever Hamas’ global financial support networks.
The move coincides with ongoing Israeli military interceptions of Gaza-bound ships and continued bombing in the enclave, despite a ceasefire brokered by President Trump in October. While the humanitarian crisis has eased since the truce, Palestinians continue to suffer from shortages of food and medical supplies. Israel has regularly bombed Gaza since the ceasefire, killing at least 880 people, while reconstruction has not meaningfully started, leaving hundreds of thousands living in tents.
Rights group DAWN criticised the sanctions, accusing Washington of using a "terrorism label" to suppress Palestinian activism. Isabelle Hayslip, advocacy manager at DAWN, stated that Palestinian diaspora communities now live under the constant threat of designation for demanding their rights. "Every time Palestinians and their supporters organise internationally, Washington reaches for the terrorism label to shut them down," Hayslip told Al Jazeera.
The sanctions follow previous blacklisting of the PCPA in January and Samidoun, with Tuesday’s penalties specifically targeting the vessels. One organiser, Samidoun’s Mohammed Khatib, had been previously detained in Belgium and Greece for his activism. The Treasury Department warned financial institutions that working with these organisers poses a "significant compliance risk," a move that could prompt international banks to freeze accounts of activists accused of no wrongdoing.
The Trump administration has intensified the use of sanctions against Palestinian human rights supporters, including International Criminal Court judges, while revoking sanctions against Israeli settlers in January 2025. International activists have launched dozens of vessels over the past two years, but all have been intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters, with many detainees accused of physical and psychological abuse.
