The United States’ decision to impose counterterrorism sanctions on Palestinian activist Rawa Alsagheer and the Masar Badil movement has triggered expressions of solidarity across Brazil and Latin America, with activists condemning the measure as an attempt to criminalise Palestinian political organising and solidarity work.

The US Treasury Department announced on August 26 that Masar Badil, also known as the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, had been added to its sanctions list under Executive Order 13224, Washington’s main legal framework for imposing counterterrorism-related financial restrictions.

Alsagheer, a Palestinian activist based in Brazil, and Germany-based Zaid Abdulnasser were also designated on the grounds that they are leaders or officials of Masar Badil. The Treasury described Masar Badil as being linked to and acting on behalf of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, which Washington previously sanctioned in 2024.

For Alsagheer, however, the announcement prompted an initially unexpected response. “I found out about the sanction because the entire movement was placed under these sanctions, on this US list,” she told MEMO. “I found out through the movement, and honestly, I ended up laughing about it for three days straight.”

She said she regarded being personally targeted by Washington less as an intimidation tactic than as an indication that Palestinian activism was attracting the attention of the US government.

She said she regarded being personally targeted by Washington less as an intimidation tactic than as an indication that Palestinian activism was attracting the attention of the US government.

“I don’t think I’ve done enough yet in my struggle to deserve being placed on this list, to be so honoured as to be persecuted by the US government,” Alsagheer said.

“This sanction doesn’t affect me at all; it doesn’t affect my life here,” she added.

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© Middle East Monitor