Palestine Action fundraiser blocked by US sanctions

An online fundraising campaign intended to cover legal fees for Palestine Action’s UK Supreme Court challenge has been blocked. The UK-based crowdfunding platform CrowdJustice declined to host the campaign because its payment processor, the US company Stripe, cited US sanctions against the group as the reason for the refusal.

Stripe reportedly confirmed that it cannot support transactions linked to or for the benefit of Palestine Action, even when funds are intended for legal proceedings. Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori stated that the reliance of UK platforms on US services has prevented the group from raising necessary funds for their legal fight against the group’s proscription in the UK.

The legal battle follows a decision by the UK Home Office to ban the group, a move that has resulted in over 3,700 arrests. While the group faces difficulties in fundraising, the UK Home Office has spent more than $900,000 defending the ban in the High Court. The case is scheduled to move to the UK’s highest court next month.