Backgrounder: Addameer Terror Links and Governmental Funding
On June 10, the US Department of Treasury sanctioned Addameer, a Palestinian NGO, for “being owned, controlled, or directed by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the PFLP.”1 The PFLP is a terrorist organization designated as such by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel.
Addameer campaigns on behalf of Palestinians prisoners, in particular those accused or convicted of security offenses, referring to them as “political prisoners” and altogether omitting the context of violence and terror. Addameer has also been active in lobbying the International Criminal Court (ICC), submitting various documents in support of investigations into Israelis.
In 2022, Harvard University Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic and Addameer submitted a joint report to the notorious permanent UN Commission of Inquiry on Israel, repeating the demonizing accusation of “apartheid.” NGO Monitor has documented additional links between former Addameer staff members and Harvard. 2
Addameer’s PFLP Ties
For over 10 years, NGO Monitor has researched and published numerous reports based on open sources, documenting the close connections between Adadameer and the PFLP. (For more information on Addameer’s PFLP ties, see “Addameer’s Ties to the PFLP Terrorist Group.”)
Several of Addameer’s current and former employees, as well as lawyers that work for Addameer, have links to the PFLP. As an organization, Addameer regularly provides legal assistance to Palestinians accused by Israel of PFLP membership or activity on behalf of the terror group, such as PFLP General-Secretary Ahmed Sa’adat. Salah Hamouri, a field researcher for Addameer, was arrested in 2005 and convicted for “attempting to assassinate Ovadia Yosef…and for his involvement with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.”3 Khalida Jarrar served as Addameer’s vice-chair until 2017 and is a senior PFLP official.4 Additionally, three Addameer officials (Jarrar, Naser Abu Khdair, and Bashir Al-Kahiri) appeared on the PFLP list for the scheduled May 2021 Palestinian Legislative Elections, which were postponed indefinitely.
In October 2021, Israel designated Addameer as a “terror organization” because it is part of “a network of organizations” that operates “on behalf of the ‘Popular Front’.” According to Fatah, Addameer is an “affiliate” of the PFLP.
Government Funding for Addameer
As detailed below, since 2018, Addameer has received funding from Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland.
Due to its affiliation with the PFLP, the provision of funds to Addameer is likely in violation of international, EU, and domestic terror financing and material support laws. Additionally, in January 2020, Addameer vehemently opposed a new requirement in European Union grant contracts with Palestinian NGOs that prohibits grantees from working with and funding organizations and individuals designated on the EU’s terror lists.
Ireland
In 2018-2023 (latest available information), Addameer received €498,250 from Irish Aid.
Spain
Municipality of San Sebastian
- In 2023-2024, Addameer and SODePAZ received €49,726 from the Municipality of San Sebastian to “Guarantee the rights of Palestinian political prisoners, with special attention to former women prisoners.”
- In 2022-2024, the Municipality of San Sebastian provided Addameer and Spanish NGO SODEPAZ with €48,147 to “guarantee the rights of Palestinian political prisoners, with special attention to former women prisoners.”
- In 2021-2023, the Municipality of San Sebastián provided Addameer and SODePaz with €49,740 for a project, “Defense of the rights of Palestinian political prisoners with a global approach to human rights.”
- Previous funding to Addameer from the Municipality of San Sebastián for “Defending the rights of Palestinian political prisoners” include €48,477 (2020-2022) and €50,000 (2019-2021).
Basque Agency for Development Cooperation
- In 2021-2022, the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation (AVCD) provided Addameer with €150,000 for the “Defense of the rights of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons, with special attention to the situation caused by the covid-19 pandemic.”
- In 2021, AVCD provided the Spanish NGO Mundubat Foundation with €622,658 for “Reducing vulnerability and strengthening the resilience capacity of the Palestinian population of east Jerusalem.” Implementing partners include Addameer, Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), and DCI-P.
- In 2019-2021, Addameer was an implementing partner on a €799,362 project funded by AVCD.
- Other implementing partners included Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) and Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), both of which, like Addameer, were designated in October 2021 by Israel for ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a designated terrorist organization by the EU, US, Canada, and Israel.
Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz
- In 2018-2019, Addameer and Solidaridad Internacional received €56,999 from the Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz for the “Defense of the Human Rights of Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails.”
Navarre Autonomous Community
- In 2020-2022, Navarre Autonomous Community provided SODePAZ and Addameer with €421,362 for a project titled “Protection of the rights of the Palestinian population detained in Israeli prisons.”
Municipality of Barcelona
- In 2023, the Municipality of Barcelona provided Addameer and Spanish NGO Paz con Dignidad with €160,000 for the “Comprehensive protection for Palestinian prisoners, with a gender perspective.”
- In 2022, the Municipality of Barcelona provided Addameer and Paz con Dignidad with €120,000 for the “Comprehensive protection for Palestinian prisoners, with a gender perspective.”
- Previous funding to Addameer via the Municipality of Barcelona for the “protection of the human rights of Palestinian political prisoners” include €120,000 (2021), €120,000 (2020), and €120,000 (2019).
Switzerland
In 2018-2020 (2018, 2019, 2020), Addameer received CHF 393,390 from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Footnotes
- This is not the first time the US has pointed out Addameer’s ties to the PFLP. On January 31, 2012, Addameer’s application to obtain UN ECOSOC consultative status was deferred after the US representative to the Committee on NGOs asked it “to clarify its affiliation with the Popular Front for the Organization of Palestine (sic).” The Committee on NGOs further deferred Addameer’s request, pending its response to the question, in February 2012, June 2012, and February 2013. In June 2013, Addameer’s request for ECOSOC status was closed after its failure to respond.
- In November 2024, Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy sponsored a webinar under the title “Targeting Health: Detention, torture, and attacks on Palestinian healthcare workers” – speakers included Milena Ansari from who had been employed by Addameer before joining Human Rights Watch. In 2025, the Carr Center extended a fellowship offer to A. Kayum Ahmed, previously employed by Addameer. The process was suspended after receiving extensive criticism.
- Hamouri was released in December 2011 as part of a swap of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In an October 2011 statement, the PFLP referred to Hamouri as a “comrade.”
- Jarrar was arrested on October 31, 2019 on suspicions of “involvement in terror activity.” On December 18, 2019, it was revealed that Jarrar has “emerged as the head of the PFLP in the West Bank and responsible for all the organization’s activities” (emphasis added). In January 2025, Jarrar was released as part of the exchange to free Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
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