The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns the US administration’s decision to sanction three prominent Palestinian human rights organizations, Al Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, solely for the legitimate exercise of their work and their engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On 4 September 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against the three non-governmental organizations for their “direct engagement in ICC’s illegitimate targeting of Israel”. The sanctions were taken pursuant to the 6 February 2025 Presidential Executive Order14203, which grants the US authorities powers to sanction individuals who directly engage in any effort by the ICC targeting “America and its close ally Israel.” The action continues a wave of attacks on those associated with the ICC, including ICC judges and prosecutors and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory. The ICJ calls on the United States to reverse this decision and desist from any further measures targeting individuals and organizations for their involvement with the ICC.
“Engaging with the ICC, the world’s leading judicial body to ensure international criminal justice, is not only legitimate and lawful, but also critical in the fight against impunity in Palestine and Israel and around the world,” said Saïd Benarbia, ICJ MENA director. “The sanctions against Al Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights are a blatant affront to the rule of law and an obstruction to the judicial process. They must be immediately revoked.”
Over decades, Al Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have conducted important work to advance the rule of law and human rights, challenging the violations of rights against Palestinians by the Israeli and Palestinian authorities alike, and bringing related cases before Palestinian, Israeli, and international courts. In so doing, these prominent organizations gave voices to thousands of Palestinian victims and supported their quest for justice and accountability.
Background
On 6 February 2025, US President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order authorizing sanctions, including asset freezes and entry bans, against persons designated by the executive order and their immediate family members, as well as providing for the possibility to designate additional persons deemed to have supported ICC efforts to investigate so-called “protected persons,” namely Americans or nationals of US allies without the consent of those allies. The Trump administration has so far designated the ICC Prosecutor, and, on 4 June, four ICC judges in a bid, among other things, to undermine ICC investigations it opposes. On 9 July, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and, on 20 August, another two ICC judges and two Deputy Prosecutors were subject to such sanctions. Under the executive order, the Secretary of State may also impose entry bans on foreigners supporting the Court without designating them.
Contact
Saïd Benarbia, Director, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme; t: +41 22 979 3800, e: said.benarbia@icj.org
Nour Al Hajj, Communications & Advocacy Officer, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme; e: nour.alhajj@icj.org
