Event Summary
On 4 September 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on three prominent Palestinian human rights organisations — Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), and Al-Haq: Law in the Service of Man. The decision came as a result of the organisations’ engagements with the International Criminal Court regarding investigations of alleged war crimes by Israel in Gaza.
This move marks a serious escalation in external political pressure on Palestinian civil society, undermining its ability to operate freely, access international funding, and advocate for accountability under international law. The sanctions threaten to weaken the entire enabling environment for human rights and civic engagement, as they may deter other organisations and donors from supporting justice-related work in Palestine.