The U.S. State Department said it is designating “three foreign NGOs—Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights—directly engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate targeting of Israel,” adding that the designations fall under International Criminal Court–related authorities. The Treasury’s sanctions office simultaneously issued guidance and updated its sanctions list.

In the notice, the administration framed the action as a response to efforts that “support or facilitate” proceedings against Israeli officials. (“Today, I am designating three foreign NGOs… directly engaged in the ICC’s illegitimate targeting of Israel.”)

Who Was Targeted—and Why It Matters

The three targeted organizations—Al-Haq (Ramallah), the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (Gaza), and Al Mezan (Gaza)—had previously petitioned the ICC to investigate Israeli airstrikes on densely populated areas, siege tactics, and mass displacement. The groups’ filings date back to late 2023, and their work has been referenced in subsequent submissions to The Hague.

Sanctioning civil society organizations complicates evidence-gathering and witness-protection pipelines relied upon by international investigators. U.S. measures can curtail fundraising, banking access, and cross-border partnerships—pressures that typically outlast immediate designations even when licenses allow limited wind-downs.

ICC Warrants, Precedent, and U.S. Policy Shifts

The ICC prosecutor announced in November 2024 that arrest warrants had been issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas figure Ibrahim al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In a separate development this summer, Washington extended punitive measures against ICC personnel, signaling a broader campaign against proceedings involving U.S. and allied officials. (“Imposes new sanctions” on ICC judges and prosecutors.)

Famine, Casualties, and the Genocide Debate

The sanctions coincide with worsening humanitarian indicators. A UN-backed food security panel determined on August 22 that Gaza City and surrounding areas are in famine and warned of spread without a surge in aid access. UN agencies said famine was “irrefutably” confirmed.

Separately, a global association of genocide scholars resolved last week that Israel’s actions meet the legal criteria for genocide, citing widespread attacks on civilians and infrastructure. Israel rejected the claim as baseless.

Since October 2023, Israel’s campaign has killed roughly 63,000 people in Gaza, displaced nearly the entire population at least once, and contributed to starvation conditions, according to figures cited in recent filings and humanitarian reports.

Rights Groups’ Likely Response

Palestinian legal organizations typically argue that engaging international courts is protected advocacy, not sanctionable activity, and say curbs on their work impede the protection of civilians and accountability mechanisms. Any U.S. general license for “wind down” transactions is likely to be narrow and time-limited, forcing rapid operational triage.

The designations may also affect how other governments and donors interact with these NGOs, even outside U.S. jurisdiction, due to de-risking by financial institutions. Meanwhile, the ICC warrants remain in force; absent arrests, they carry diplomatic and travel repercussions that can shape state visits and multilateral gatherings.