*JERUSALEM* – In a significant policy shift, the Biden administration has officially designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network as an "international fundraiser" for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization since 1997. This announcement follows mounting pressure for the U.S. to take action against the group, particularly after a Fox News Digital report earlier this year highlighted calls for its classification as a terrorist entity.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a statement asserting that Samidoun masquerades as a charitable organization while allegedly diverting funds to support terrorism. The statement emphasized that since its inception, the PFLP has utilized Samidoun to bolster fundraising efforts across North America and Europe.

The recent designation coincides with a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States, which have reportedly increased by nearly 200% since the deadly Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The U.S. government's firm stance against organizations suspected of funding terrorism comes as part of ongoing efforts to combat this alarming trend.

Samidoun operates various chapters in locations including Albuquerque, New Mexico, and several European nations such as Sweden, France, and Spain. Notably, Germany banned Samidoun last November, and Israel had classified the organization as a terrorist entity back in 2021.

“The actions of groups like Samidoun, which present themselves as humanitarian entities, cannot be ignored,” stated Bradley T. Smith, acting under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence. “We will work alongside Canada and other partners to dismantle attempts to finance the PFLP, Hamas, and other terrorist networks.”

In response to the U.S. designation, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister of public safety, reiterated his country's commitment to combatting terrorist funding alongside its American counterparts. His remarks echoed the collective resolve to address the growing menace of terrorism that threatens global safety.

The U.S. Treasury's decision also reflects a broader initiative to counter threats in the wake of recent violent events that have shocked the international community. The heinous acts of October 7 saw the massacre of nearly 1,200 individuals, including over 30 American citizens, stirring fresh calls for action against those that perpetuate such violence.

In a fierce rebuttal, Samidoun claimed the designation was an attack on its political advocacy for Palestinian prisoners and their rights. They vowed to continue their activism, proclaiming, "We will keep struggling to stop the genocide, and we will not be deterred in our fight for the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea."

As the situation develops, the growing scrutiny of organizations like Samidoun highlights the complex intersection of humanitarian efforts, political advocacy, and combatting terrorism in contemporary global geopolitics. The implications of this designation may reverberate beyond funding operations, posing challenging questions about political expression and activism within the context of rising tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Stay tuned as we continue to cover this evolving story and its impact on international relations and regional stability.