Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association strongly condemns the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) decision to designate Addameer on the “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list. The organization firmly rejects all forms of sanctions and arbitrary measures resulting from this unjust decision, including the freeze of its bank accounts, the blocking of its social media pages, and restrictions imposed by global companies and institutions.

Addameer unequivocally denies any allegations suggesting links between it and any political party or group designated on “terrorism lists.” Addameer affirms that it is an independent human rights organization operating with full transparency under Palestinian law and in accordance with international legal principles. It adheres to local and international standards and procedures for institutions. This unjust designation is condemned as a fundamentally political move serving Israeli agendas aimed at undermining Palestinian human rights work.

This dangerous designation, which lacks any objective evidence or legal basis, is a continuation of a systematic incitement campaign led by Israeli occupation authorities for years supported by some Zionist institutions and groups. This same campaign led to the designation of Addameer in 2021 as an “unlawful organization,” along with six other prominent Palestinian human rights organizations, in a clear attempt to silence voices defending human rights and to obstruct Palestinians’ right to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes.

This decision also reflects a biased political approach intended to punish anyone who dares to seek accountability for Israeli leaders’ crimes against the Palestinian people. The inclusion of Addameer on the so-called terrorism list is part of a broader, systematic policy targeting the international justice system. It is an extension of U.S. sanctions previously imposed on judges of the International Criminal Court, in an effort to undermine international accountability efforts.

The designation of Addameer is not just an attack on a Palestinian human rights organization, it is a dangerous attempt to prevent it from continuing its legal support for Palestinian prisoners and detainees, from submitting complaints and reports to international forums, particularly the International Criminal Court, and from advancing its efforts to achieve international criminal justice and hold perpetrators accountable for crimes against Palestinian civilians, including prisoners and detainees.

Addameer stresses that this targeting is part of a broader assault on Palestinian civil society and human rights defenders, especially those who have spent decades documenting grave violations against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, exposing practices of torture and cruel, inhuman treatment, and working to hold the occupying state accountable for its ongoing crimes.

In this context, Addameer warns that this unjust designation could pave the way for expanded targeting of other Palestinian human rights organizations working to document Israeli violations, expose occupation policies, and pursue accountability for Israeli officials before international courts. This puts the entire Palestinian human rights sector at risk and threatens to halt its professional and humanitarian work.

Since its founding, Addameer has dedicated its efforts to defending Palestinian prisoners. Addameer views this decision as a clear attempt to suppress ongoing efforts to pursue Israeli war criminals and to obstruct international human rights work aimed at holding the occupation accountable, particularly amid the ongoing genocide and escalating crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, and the systematic torture taking place in prisons.

Accordingly, Addameer calls for the following:

• States and free parliaments, to reject and confront this decision, and to publicly declare non-recognition of it or its consequences.
• The U.S. administration to rescind the decision and to end all forms of restrictions on the organization and its legitimate work defending human rights.
• Strengthened international support for Palestinian civil society and protection from criminalization efforts, especially for organizations working in defense of prisoners and human rights.

In conclusion, Addameer affirms its unwavering commitment to its human rights mission. It will not be intimidated by criminalization attempts and will continue its work to defend the dignity of the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and justice.

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
Ramallah – Palestine
2 July 2025