Samidoun vows to 'keep struggling to stop Israeli genocide' after US sanctions

The Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network Samidoun has vowed to “keep struggling to stop the genocide” and end imperialist support for Israel until Palestine is liberated from the river to the sea.

On October 15, in a coordinated move, the US imposed sanctions on the organization, and Canada designated the group as a terrorist entity.

The US Treasury Department labeled Samidoun as a “sham charity,” accusing it of raising funds for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Samidoun, based in Vancouver, Canada, with chapters across several European cities and the United Kingdom, issued a statement a day after the sanctions were imposed.

“Our response to this designation is clear: we will keep struggling to stop the genocide, stop imperialist support for Israel, until the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea.”

The group touched on support provided by “imperialist powers” to the Zionist entity, such as repressing the activists and international organizations “that are resisting these countries’ support for the occupation.”

“Thousands of activists in North America and Europe have been arrested, their houses raided or imprisoned. Palestinians in various countries have received deportation orders for their political activism,” it said. 

The group warned that the sanctions set a dangerous precedent, where organizations could be labeled as “terrorist” for engaging in public and political activities such as organizing demonstrations, lectures, and publishing posters.

It said the move aims to suppress groups that challenge imperialist states’ complicity in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“The repression of Samidoun is part of a larger attack against the Palestinian diaspora, the Arab community and all internationalists that struggle for Palestine.”

Mohammed Khatib, Samidoun’s Europe coordinator, said he wasn’t surprised at all by hearing about sanctions.

“To be honest I wasn’t surprised at all. We know the US stands with supporting the genocide and supporting the Zionist entity.”

“This kind of repression is not only being done against Samidoun and hasn’t only been going on in the United States and Canada, but also in Europe,” he added.

“This is a smear campaign,” Khatib stated in response to the US Treasury Department’s accusations against the group for allegedly raising funds for the PFL.  

“It’s an attempt to delegitimize the network and incite fear about us,” he said. 

“They are attacking us on the basis that we were fundraising for other political groups and political parties and they know very well that this is not true. If there was any serious allegation there, many of us would be in prison right now. So there is not any legal grounds or element for any of this.”

“Every time we are attacked, by the Zionist entity in this way, in Germany, in Canada, in the US, we get stronger and more powerful. This is kind of assurance to us that we are on a good political line,” he stated, reiterating that “the group is on the right side.”

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