Sanctions on Sham Charities Funding Hamas and PFLP—Will More Follow?
The US has sanctioned the NGO Addameer and several European organizations serving as Hamas fronts—does this pave the way for further scrutiny of other NGOs designated as terrorist entities by Israel?
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned five individuals and five organizations accused of channeling funds to Hamas's Military Wing and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) under the guise of humanitarian aid. This action highlights the misuse of charitable organizations for terrorist financing and sets a precedent that could lead to further scrutiny of other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including those previously designated as terrorist entities by Israel.
Key Targets and Their Links to Terrorism
Among the sanctioned entities is Al Weam Charitable Society, covertly controlled by Hamas, which has raised funds through international donations. The organization has been linked to Hamas operatives such as Muhammad Sami Muhammad Abu Marei, facilitating the terrorist group's activities.
Other entities include Filistin Vakfi in Turkey, El Baraka in Algeria, and the Israa Foundation in the Netherlands. These groups, often masking themselves as humanitarian organizations, have been implicated in supporting Hamas's military operations. In addition, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, previously designated by Israel as a terrorist organization, was also sanctioned for its links to the PFLP.
European Leadership Network's Report on Hamas's European Presence
This sanctioning comes after the European Leadership Network (ELNET) published a report on October 15, 2024, detailing Hamas's extensive European network. The report identified over 30 affiliated individuals and organizations operating across the UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Among those implicated by the U.S. Treasury in Hamas's fundraising schemes were Amin Ghazi Abu Rashed, his daughter Israa Abou Rashed, and Mohammad Hannoun. These operatives were also named in the ELNET report as key figures in Hamas's financial operations across Europe.
Response from Samidoun
The Treasury’s press release about the designations also reveals that in the spring of 2022, Khaled Barakat, leader of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Samidoun, coordinated with the PFLP to send funds to Addameer and arrange meetings between Addameer and Samidoun. In response to these sanctions, Samidoun condemned the actions, calling them acts of "genocide" by U.S. imperialism.
This statement includes an admission of Samidoun's willingness to support Palestinian terror groups, with the group stating, "For the solidarity movement’s work to be meaningful and effective, it must act to support the Palestinian Resistance organizations — and, indeed, to coordinate with them on the broadest possible level."
Potential for U.S. Sanctions on Israeli-Designated Palestinian NGOs
Addameer's sanction also highlights the potential for other Palestinian NGOs previously designated as terrorist organizations by Israel to face U.S. sanctions. These include Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Al-Haq,Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), and Bisan.
While these groups are not currently sanctioned by the U.S., the designation of Addameer could set a precedent for future actions. The U.S. Treasury's continued focus on organizations with ties to terrorism highlights its commitment to dismantling the financial networks that fuel violence in the region.