Palestinian British journalist hits back at US sanctions, allegations of Hamas ties

Palestinian British journalist and political activist, Zaher Birawi, says he "categorically rejects" the decision by the US Treasury to include him on its Sanctions List.

In a statement sent to The New Arab, Birawi says he believes the decision was "based on inaccurate information and lacks a sound legal foundation" after the US Office of Foreign Assets Control accused him of links to Hamas’ military wing, al-Qassam Brigades.

The US Treasury decision was issued on 21 January against the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a transnational Palestinian diaspora body acting as a coordination platform for Palestinians living outside historic Palestine.

The organisation has been instrumental in organising and promoting Gaza flotillas that aim to lift Israel’s naval blockade of the besieged Gaza Strip, including the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The designation named Birawi in connection to the organisation, accusing him of providing material support to the group and, by extension, to Hamas. Birawi rejects the allegation, saying his involvement with the PCPA was limited and lawful.

Birawi participated in the group’s founding conference in Istanbul in 2017 and was subsequently elected to its general secretariat during its first term, until 2021. Birawi stresses that he has held no "administrative, organisational, or decision-making role" within the body since then.

In response to the US department’s allegation of PCPA ties to al-Qassam, he says that during his involvement, the organisation operated as "an independent civil and political body engaging in peaceful political activity", adding that he was never aware of any unlawful conduct or links to organisations designated on terrorism lists.

Birawi also said that, prior to the sanctions being issued, he had not been contacted by any US authority "for the purpose of inquiry, verification, or to provide clarifications or supporting documents", essentially depriving him of the opportunity to correct what he views as "incorrect information".

Sanctions designations under the Executive Order 13224 are administrative rather than criminal, and therefore do not require prior notice or a court process. Once the decision is issued, the individual’s assets under US jurisdiction are frozen, with US persons and institutions henceforth prohibited from transacting with them.

Even if Birawi has not faced any criminal charges, the department’s outcome is likely to have wide-ranging effects - from limiting access to banking, international payments, and travel.

Pro-Palestinian activists argue that such sanctions risk criminalising legitimate political advocacy, blurring the line between political organising and alleged support for terrorism.

As a result, Birawi said he was in the process of consulting with a specialised legal team to "formally challenge this decision, request its review and reconsideration, and seek the removal of [his] name from the list".

Birawi previously faced false allegations that were investigated and ultimately dismissed, with his name removed from international compliance databases as a result.

The New Arab has contacted the State Department for a response to Birawi's comments.