U.S. And Canada Designate Palestinian Fundraiser As A Terrorist

In a binational action, the United States and Canada have listed the Samidoun Palestinian Solidarity Network as a terrorist entity. 

Samidoun is a sham charity that raises funds for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which had already been designated as a  terrorist organization by the U.S. In addition, Khaled Barakat, a PFLP leader, has also been designated as a terrorist. In concert with Samidoun, Barakat raises funds around the world for PFLP. PFLP was directly involved in the atrocities committed against Israel on October 7 last year.

Pursuant to the counterterrorism authority granted by Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, the U.S. joins Canada which listed Samidoun as a terrorist entity under its Criminal Code on October 11. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, Canada’s Criminal Code prohibits certain actions in relation to terrorist groups, including those related to terrorist financing, such as knowingly dealing with any property that belongs to a terrorist.  

According to NGO Monitor, Germany and France banned Samidoun last year, and in September 2024 the Dutch parliament called on the government to do the same. Samidoun is officially registered in Canada and its leadership resides there. 

“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,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “The United States, together with Canada and our like-minded partners, will continue to disrupt those who seek to finance the PFLP, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations,” he said.

“Canada remains committed to working with our key partners and allies, like the United States, to counter terrorist organizations and their fundraisers,” remarked Dominic LeBlanc, Canadian Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs. “Today’s joint action with the U.S. sends a strong message that our two nations will not tolerate this type of activity and will do everything in our power to ensure robust measures are in place to address terrorist financing,” he said.

In coordination with Canada, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury Department is targeting the fundraising for terrorism. According to Treasury, when terrorists and terrorist organizations abuse the non-profit sector, legitimate organizations have more difficulty securing financial services and impacts their support for basic human needs like food, medicine, and shelter in Gaza and the West Bank. A press release said that the binational action reduces the overall risk of the NPO sector and preserves access by legitimate humanitarian organizations to financial services. 

Earlier in October, the OFAC exposed terrorists and terrorist organizations abusing the non-profit sector. Key data from Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) aided in the action.

The PFLP is a terrorist group operating in Gaza and the West Bank. It has been a designated FTO since 1997 and is the second largest Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) faction despite boycotting PLO meetings since 2018. PFLP remained committed to terrorist activity through its armed apparatus, the Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, and the group has been active in the Israel-Hamas conflict, to include participating in the horrific attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. PFLP has not held any leadership positions in the PLO since 2016.

The Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (Samidoun), a front organization based in Vancouver, Canada and established by the PFLP, is involved in fundraising for the PFLP. Samidoun serves as a front for the group in countries where the PFLP is declared a terrorist organization. While the organization ostensibly supports Palestinian prisoners and their family members, in practice Samidoun provides financial support to the sanctioned PFLP. In addition to today’s joint action with Canada, Samidoun was also banned by Germany in a separate November 2023 action.

Khaled Barakat (Barakat) is a Canadian citizen and a member of the PFLP and serves as part of the group’s leadership abroad. His fundraising and recruitment efforts support the PFLP’s terrorist activity against Israel. Barakat has previously publicly acknowledged Samidoun’s affiliation with the PFLP, despite direction from PFLP leadership to maintain the confidential nature of the relationship.

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above, and of any entities that are owned directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. 

U.S. persons must comply with OFAC regulations, including all U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens regardless of where they are located, all persons within the United States, and all U.S.-incorporated entities and their foreign branches. Non-U.S. persons are also subject to certain OFAC prohibitions. For example, non-U.S. persons are prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. Violations of OFAC regulations may result in civil or criminal penalties.

In addition, non-U.S. financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions risk or be subject to an enforcement action.