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.
