U.S. slaps sanctions on Palestinian leaders for seeking justice
According to a statement issued Thursday by the U.S. State Department under the administration of former President Donald Trump, the sanctions will include visa restrictions on members of both the PA and PLO.
The U.S. accused the Palestinian leadership of 'supporting terrorism' and 'undermining prospects for peace,' citing their outreach to international legal bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in pursuit of accountability for Israeli war crimes.
The statement referenced the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002, claiming the PA and PLO violated its terms by seeking global recognition of Palestinian statehood and challenging Israel's actions through international legal frameworks.
However, Palestinian leaders strongly rejected the U.S. move. Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, condemned the sanctions as a 'clear endorsement of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza' and an attempt 'to erase the Palestinian cause' at a time when more countries around the world are moving to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.
'These sanctions are not about peace,' Abu Yousef stated. 'They are about silencing Palestinian rights, shielding Israel from accountability, and rewarding its crimes against our people.'
This latest move highlights the entrenched double standards of U.S. foreign policy: while Washington penalizes Palestinian officials for seeking justice through international legal means and for gaining recognition of statehood, both legitimate under international law, it continues to offer unconditional political, military, and financial support to Israel despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide against Palestinians.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, Israel has faced accusations of crimes against humanity, with over 200,000 Palestinians killed or wounded and thousands still missing.
Yet, the U.S. has repeatedly vetoed international resolutions, blocked ceasefire efforts, and armed the Israeli military, undermining its own credibility as a broker of peace.
This policy posture places the U.S. as a significant threat to justice, peace, and global stability, as it openly punishes the victims while emboldening the occupying power.
Critics argue that by criminalizing Palestinian efforts to seek redress and justice, Washington is not only deepening the conflict but also dismantling the very principles of international law it claims to uphold.
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