In a powerful demonstration of resilience, leaders of Palestine’s foremost human rights organizations have declared their unwavering commitment to justice despite facing severe financial and operational constraints from recent US sanctions. Shawan Jabarin of Al-Haq and Raji Sourani of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights delivered their assessments during the 24th Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The sanctions, implemented by the Trump administration in September, have effectively frozen bank accounts, severed international donor relationships, and left 45 employee families without regular income. Both directors characterized the measures as unprecedented attacks on humanitarian work, noting that the US government explicitly targeted their organizations for cooperating with ICC investigations into Israeli military actions.
Despite immediate financial devastation—including closed bank accounts and suspended transfers from fearful international partners—both organizations continue submitting extensive documentation of alleged violations in Gaza and the West Bank to ICC prosecutors. The directors reported meeting with ICC officials who expressed determination to continue their investigations, though both advocates expressed frustration at the court’s slow progress in curtailing ongoing violence.
The sanctions carry severe implications beyond financial strain, including potential criminal exposure for organizations that maintain relationships with the sanctioned groups. Nevertheless, both directors emphasized that their work represents an idea that cannot be suppressed by financial measures. They called for stronger international support, particularly urging European nations to activate the EU Blocking Statute to protect entities from extraterritorial application of US sanctions.
Both organizations continue operating through alternative support networks while maintaining that their mission to defend victims remains unchanged despite the unprecedented challenges they face.