United States Sanctions UK-Based Palestine Activist Zaher Birawi Over Alleged Hamas Ties
Washington freezes assets of British-resident organiser and affiliated group accused of supporting the Palestinian militant movement
The United States has imposed targeted sanctions on a United Kingdom-based Palestine activist, Zaher Khaled Hassan Birawi, along with an organisation he helped lead, citing allegations of support for the armed group Hamas.
The action, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, designates Birawi and the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) under Executive Order 13224 for materially assisting, sponsoring or providing financial, material or technological support to the group.
In designating Birawi, a long-time resident of north London and chairman of the Palestine Forum in Britain, U.S. authorities alleged he was a founding member of the PCPA and that the organisation acted on behalf of Hamas, effectively allowing its operations and influence to extend in Europe.
The sanctions block all property and interests in property of Birawi and the PCPA that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, and require that these assets be reported to the Treasury.
The move follows scrutiny of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and activities organised by the coalition of groups that include the Palestine Forum, which has been connected to aid efforts and public rallies.
U.S. officials underscored that the right to advocate for legitimate political concerns remains protected, but emphasised that support for Hamas — classified by the United States as a terrorist organisation — does not fall within those protections and poses risks to innocent lives and international security.
Birawi has previously denied links to Hamas, and his identification with militant activity dates back to designations by Israeli authorities and accusations in the British Parliament.
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt covert support networks abroad and to prevent the exploitation of civil society organisations for militant ends, reflecting an intensified focus on financial flows that enable extremist activity beyond conflict zones.
The action, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, designates Birawi and the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) under Executive Order 13224 for materially assisting, sponsoring or providing financial, material or technological support to the group.
In designating Birawi, a long-time resident of north London and chairman of the Palestine Forum in Britain, U.S. authorities alleged he was a founding member of the PCPA and that the organisation acted on behalf of Hamas, effectively allowing its operations and influence to extend in Europe.
The sanctions block all property and interests in property of Birawi and the PCPA that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, and require that these assets be reported to the Treasury.
The move follows scrutiny of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and activities organised by the coalition of groups that include the Palestine Forum, which has been connected to aid efforts and public rallies.
U.S. officials underscored that the right to advocate for legitimate political concerns remains protected, but emphasised that support for Hamas — classified by the United States as a terrorist organisation — does not fall within those protections and poses risks to innocent lives and international security.
Birawi has previously denied links to Hamas, and his identification with militant activity dates back to designations by Israeli authorities and accusations in the British Parliament.
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt covert support networks abroad and to prevent the exploitation of civil society organisations for militant ends, reflecting an intensified focus on financial flows that enable extremist activity beyond conflict zones.
