US imposes sanctions on 'sham charity' fundraising for Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

Washington: The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a key international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which Washington has designated a terrorist organization.

The US Treasury Department, in action taken with Canada, said in a statement it imposed sanctions on the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, accusing it of being "a sham charity that serves as an international fundraiser" for the PFLP.

The PFLP, which has also taken part in the fight against Israel in Gaza, was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US in October 1997 and October 2001, respectively.

The Treasury said PFLP uses Samidoun to fundraise in Europe and North America. The group's activities were banned by Germany last year.

“Organizations like Samidoun masquerade as charitable actors that claim to provide humanitarian support to those in need, yet in reality divert funds for much-needed assistance to support terrorist groups,” Treasury's acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Bradley Smith, said in the statement.

The Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network did not respond immediately to a Reuters request for comment.

A member of the PFLP's leadership abroad was also targeted with sanctions on Tuesday.

Canada announced the listing of Samidoun as a terrorist entity on Tuesday. “Violent extremism, acts of terrorism or terrorist financing have no place in Canadian society or abroad," Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in a statement announcing the listing.

The Treasury said the PFLP remained active in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, including participating in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage to Gaza, by Israeli tallies.

More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive so far, according to Gaza's health authorities.