On October 15, 2024, the United States joined with Canada to designate the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (“Samidoun”), a sham charity that allegedly raises funds for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (“PFLP”) terrorist organization. According to OFAC, the PFLP was designated in the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997 and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2001. OFAC reported that the PFLP has used Samidoun to manage fundraising operations across Europe and North America. OFAC also designated Khaled Barakat, a Canadian citizen who is allegedly a PFLP leader that plays a critical role in the PFLP’s external fundraising efforts.
The designations were imposed pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
OFAC also reported that Canadian authorities listed Samidoun as a “terrorist group,” a designation which went into effect on October 11, 2024. The action, which was taken under Canada’s Criminal Code, prohibits Canadian individuals and entities from knowingly dealing with any property that belongs to or benefits a terrorist group. The Criminal Code also forbids certain actions related to terrorist financing, travel and recruitment.
U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release | Government of Canada News Release