Two pro-Palestine organizations, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide, filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court on July 15, 2026, challenging U.S. sanctions against international human rights groups. The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 14203, issued by former President Donald Trump in February 2025, which allows penalties against individuals or groups that seek to bring cases against the U.S. or its allies at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The plaintiffs argue that the sanctions violate their First Amendment rights by obstructing free association and speech. They are seeking a court declaration to reverse the sanctions and an injunction against their enforcement. The lawsuit highlights sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a U.N. official investigating human rights violations in the Palestinian territories, and three Palestinian NGOs.
Omar Shakir, executive director of DAWN, stated that the sanctions are used to punish human rights defenders and limit political expression. The lawsuit names several officials, including Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as defendants. The sanctions have previously targeted individuals associated with the ICC, including a prosecutor who sought to investigate U.S. actions in Afghanistan.
The lawsuit coincides with Rubio's recent criticism of the ICC in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, where he called for dismantling the court, citing its alleged bias against the U.S. and its allies. DAWN's spokesperson emphasized the importance of legal clarity to continue their work with Albanese and Palestinian civil society.