Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, linked to Iran's regime and designated terrorist movement Hamas, is facing calls for sanctions from the Biden administration and scrutiny from experts over its role in pro-Hamas campus protests.
Despite bans in Germany and Israel, Samidoun continues to operate in the United States, raising concerns about its influence on college campuses. The organization, which claims to support solidarity with prisoners, has been accused of spreading anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda.
Experts highlight Samidoun's ties to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), designated terrorist organizations by the United States. These connections meet the criteria for a ban under U.S. law.
On May 16, MEMRI reported on a joint statement by jihadi Gaza student organizations, including Hamas, PFLP, and others, expressing solidarity with pro-Hamas campus protests in the U.S. The statement praised students for aiming to "put an end to the Zionist-U.S. genocide."
Samidoun's international coordinator, Charlotte Kates, glorified Hamas' mass murder of Israelis on October 7, 2021, in a speech in Canada, leading to her arrest. The Canadian authorities also arrested Kates for her pro-Hamas terrorism speech.
The NGO Palestine Solidarity Duisburg in Germany was banned on May 16 for providing support to Hamas and Samidoun. However, the bans in Germany have been criticized as insufficient.
Dr. Rafael Korenzecher, publisher of the German-Jewish newspaper Jewish Review, criticized the late and inadequate bans as alibi actions by German politicians. Domestic intelligence reports indicate an increase in Hamas operatives in Germany.
Professor Michael Wolffsohn, a prominent German-Jewish historian, attributed the rise in anti-Semitism in Germany to unchecked migration of Islamic antisemites under former Chancellor Angela Merkel's policies.
Wolffsohn expressed concern about the future of Jews in Germany due to the widespread Jew-hatred following the October 7 attacks. Nearly 4,000 Germans protested against Israel in Munich last week, highlighting the growing threat to Jewish life in the country.
A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on deliberations related to a U.S. terrorist designation process for Samidoun, stating that the First Amendment prohibits designating organizations based solely on hateful speech. However, experts believe Samidoun's links to Hamas and PFLP warrant a ban.
The role of Samidoun in pro-Hamas campus protests has drawn increased scrutiny, with experts calling for action to ban the organization and investigate its allies and supporters. The Biden administration faces pressure to sanction Samidoun as part of its efforts to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses.
