US Imposes Sanctions on Gaza Flotilla Organisers Amid Israeli Crackdown

US Imposes Sanctions on Activists Involved in Gaza Aid Flotillas

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on four individuals involved in organizing aid flotillas to Gaza, alleging that they are trying to reach the Palestinian territory “in support of Hamas”. The sanctions target two representatives from the advocacy group Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) and two others from the Palestinian prisoners solidarity network Samidoun.

The US has imposed sanctions on the PCPA in January for backing the flotillas, and this latest round targets advocates based in Jordan, Spain, and Belgium. The sanctions freeze the activists’ assets in the US and make it generally illegal for Americans to do business with them.

According to the Treasury Department, the sanctions are aimed at severing Hamas’ global financial support networks. However, human rights advocates have rejected the sanctions, stating that they are being used as a tool to silence Palestinian activism internationally.

The Israeli military has intercepted several Gaza-bound ships in recent weeks, despite a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump coming into effect in October. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, with shortages of food and medical supplies affecting hundreds of thousands of people living in the territory.

Palestinian rights advocates have been sailing towards Gaza to deliver humanitarian assistance while also showing solidarity with the population there. The US has previously blacklisted Samidoun, but Tuesday’s penalties were specifically about the vessels.

The sanctions are part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian activism, which has resulted in dozens of people being detained by Israeli forces in international waters. Many detainees have been released and deported within days, but some have reported physical and psychological abuse.

The Treasury Department has warned banks against working with organizers of humanitarian vessels to Gaza, citing a significant compliance risk. This warning could prompt international banks to shut down the accounts of activists accused of no wrongdoing.

Source: Al Jazeera