Palestinian Activist Majed al-Zeer Condemns US Sanctions

Majed al-Zeer, a Europe-based Palestinian activist, criticized the United States for sanctioning him. He called the move an attempt to silence his advocacy for Palestinian rights. Al-Zeer, who holds British and Jordanian citizenship, dismissed the claims as “absolutely false.” He said the sanctions have affected his social life and career. “There is no proof whatsoever,” he added.

Al-Zeer discovered the sanctions earlier this week through media reports. The US Department of the Treasury identified him as one of three individuals sanctioned for alleged connections to Hamas. The Treasury accused him of aiding Hamas in fundraising efforts in Europe.

As chairman of the European-Palestinian Council for Political Relations, Al-Zeer denied these allegations. He asserted that he has never been involved in financial activities throughout his activism, including his tenure as president of the Palestinian Return Centre. He stated, “Israel just doesn’t want any activists to work for the sake of Palestine.”

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US-Israel Relations

Al-Zeer believes these sanctions show the close alignment between the US and Israel. He pointed out that the US has supported Israel since 1948, despite human rights concerns. “I am deeply perplexed by the approach taken to reach this decision,” he added.

The sanctions were announced on October 7, the anniversary of a Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed over 1,100 people. Since then, Israeli actions in Gaza have killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions aimed to limit Hamas’s ability to fund operations.

Legal Battles and Frozen Assets

Al-Zeer and three other individuals were sanctioned, along with nine businesses. Their assets in the US were frozen, and US citizens are barred from doing business with them. This is not the first time al-Zeer has faced accusations. In 2019, he won a legal case after a database listed him as linked to “terrorism.” He called the current evidence against him “laughable” and part of a broader political effort to silence pro-Palestinian activists.

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