A pro-Hamas organization that has helped organize protests on U.S. college campuses is a “sham charity” raising money for the terrorist organization, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.
Through joint action by the U.S. and Canadian governments, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoners of War Solidarity Network (Samidoun) was sanctioned by the Treasury Department and listed as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government, where it is based.
NBC News interviewed the group’s co-founder earlier this month. Charlotte Cates, international coordinator for Samidoun, said the Vancouver-based organization champions the rights of Palestinians, especially those locked up in Israeli prisons.
But the Treasury Department announced Tuesday that Samidoun serves as a front organization and fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which the United States deemed a terrorist organization in 1997 and 2001.
“Organizations like Samidoun pose as charities and claim to provide humanitarian aid to people in need, but in reality they divert much-needed aid funds to support terrorist groups. ” said Bradley Smith, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Financial terrorism.
Kates’ husband, Khalid Barakat, was also sanctioned by the Treasury Department. The agency said Barakat is a member of the leadership of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The Treasury Department announced that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which operates in Gaza and the West Bank, participated in “horrific attacks against Israeli civilians” on October 7.
Samidoun, which means “solid” in Arabic, is banned in Germany and Israel because of its ties to terrorist organizations.
In an interview with NBC News, Cates called Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel a “brave and heroic operation.”
“That’s something we support 100 percent,” Cates added. “The so-called State of Israel is a settler colony that never had the right to exist.”
Cates did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Barakat could not be reached independently.
The Treasury Department said the measure would help protect legitimate charities.
“By publicly identifying fake charities, this measure reduces overall risk to the (nonprofit) sector and preserves access to financial services by legitimate humanitarian organizations,” the press release said. said.
Barbara McQuaid, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said the Treasury designation would hinder Mr. Samidoun’s fundraising efforts.
“This makes sense,” McQuaid said. “It prevents people from making financial contributions to them.”
But the State Department has not designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization, so it is not a crime for protest groups to meet with Mr. Samidoun, organize demonstrations, or feature its members in webinars.
Frank Figliuzzi, former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence and NBC News contributor, said the Treasury Department’s action was significant and that the federal government could take subsequent action against the group. Ta.
He said: “Samidoun is now toxic to the touch. It’s not just banks that need to be aware of this, but also individuals and other organizations who are now poisonous to the touch in any way, shape or form. “We recognize that we are unable to do business.” ”
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement: “The United States continues to destroy fake organizations that function as humanitarian organizations while funding terrorism.”
