Volker Turk warns that the US sanctions over ICC cooperation could have a ‘chilling effect’ on civil society globally.United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has rejected United States sanctions on Palestinian rights groups as “unacceptable”, calling for them to be revoked amid global outrage against the US move.Turk, on Friday, lauded the work of the nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) targeted by the US for their cooperation with the International Criminal Court – Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list“For decades now, these NGOs have been performing vital human rights work, particularly on accountability for human rights violations,” he said.“I urge the US Government to withdraw immediately these sanctions.”US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had designated the Palestinian groups for sanctions on Thursday, blocking their assets and banning American citizens from engaging in financial transactions with them.“These entities have directly engaged in efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals, without Israel’s consent,” Rubio said in a statement.He also promised to continue to “respond with significant and tangible consequences” to efforts to prosecute Israeli officials at the ICC.The move comes as part of a broader campaign by the administration of US President Donald Trump to penalise critics of Israel at home and across the world.Over the past months, Washington has imposed sanctions on several ICC judges and officials, as well as UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese, for seeking accountability for Israel’s abuses.Last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes charges in Gaza, including using starvation as a weapon of war.The US, under then-President Joe Biden …
