Appeal regarding U.S. sanctions on Palestinian human rights organizations and escalating repression

INCLO members expressed their grave concern in a letter to the Hague Group – an association of Global South nations taking coordinated actions to protect and uphold the rulings of the International Court of Justice – regarding the recent decision by the United States government to impose sanctions on three leading Palestinian human rights organizations. These organizations do critical work documenting structural injustice and advancing accountability under international law—an endeavour that must be upheld and protected.

By being added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Executive Order 14203, three organizations are facing sweeping financial and political consequences, which are already making it almost impossible to operate and do the valuable work they have been carrying out to defend human rights.

Placement on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List has immediate and devastating consequences, such as frozen bank accounts, blocking future international transfers, and suspended salaries for staff who have been at the front line of human rights work. These restrictions prevent the organizations from carrying out their vital human rights work, including the provision of legal aid, documentation of grave violations, and support for victims. In practice, these sanctions weaponize financial systems to disable human rights defenders, while those responsible for violations enjoy continued impunity.

This designation marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing effort to undermine legitimate human rights work and discredit organizations seeking justice through international legal mechanisms. It follows a broader pattern of attacks on Palestinian civil society, including the 2021 unlawful criminalization of six groups as “terrorist organizations” by Israeli authorities — allegations widely condemned by the UN, EU member states, and global human rights actors as unfounded and politically motivated.

Others have similarly been targeted under the same executive order in the past, which was introduced to sanction those perceived to be supporting the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in ways that conflict with past U.S. government positions on human rights commitments. These measures contravene international human rights standards, including Articles 19, 21, and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. The acts also violate the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), which affirms the right of individuals and organizations to promote and protect human rights without fear of reprisals. We note with concern that the designation of Palestinian NGOs as “terrorist organizations” in 2021 was already condemned by UN Special Procedures as baseless and politically motivated; the present sanctions represent a further escalation of this unlawful campaign.

We are deeply concerned that the use of financial sanctions against human rights defenders and organizations engaged in legal advocacy sets a devastating precedent. It contributes to a chilling effect on global civil society, weakens multilateral human rights institutions, and signals a willingness by powerful states to criminalize accountability efforts when they or their allies are the ones being accused.

These sanctions not only endanger Palestinian civil society organizations but also set a precedent with dangerous global implications. If powerful States are permitted to impose unilateral coercive measures against human rights defenders engaged with international justice institutions such as the International Criminal Court, civil society worldwide will face intensified risks of criminalization, financial exclusion, and reputational harm. The chilling effect extends far beyond Palestine, undermining international cooperation on human rights monitoring and accountability.

We affirm the critical role of civil society in upholding international human rights law, documenting abuses, defending the rights of marginalized communities, and supporting victims of human rights violations during these troubling times for peace around the world.

We respectfully call on you to urgently:

1. Address the U.S. Administration Publicly and Privately:
   Urge the U.S. government to immediately rescind the sanctions against these Palestinian organizations, and to cease all efforts—direct or indirect—that obstruct legitimate human rights work and international justice.
2. Mobilize EU Member States and Other Governments:
   Issue communications to EU capitals and other Member States, encouraging them to reject the U.S. sanctions and strengthen their support for Palestinian civil society organizations, both politically and financially.
   

We urge you to treat this issue with the urgency it requires and to take coordinated and public
steps that can meaningfully challenge these repressive measures.

We remain available for further dialogue and would welcome the opportunity to provide further
information or brief your mandates as needed.

Sincerely,

1. Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
2. Conectas Direitos Humanos (Conectas)
3. Dejusticia
4. Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)
5. Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
6. Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
7. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
8. Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC)
9. The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
10. Legal Resources Centre (LRC)

Download the complete November 17, 2025 letter to the Hague Group here.