Palestinian terror-linked fundraiser barred from accepting credit cards after Washington Examiner exposé
Exclusive: Gaza Fundraiser Linked to Terrorist Group Loses Credit Card Donations
A Gaza fundraiser that was supporting a terrorist group designated by Israel has been forced to stop accepting credit card donations. This comes after multiple reports from the Washington Examiner, which led to Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, criticizing credit card processor Stripe for allowing its services to be used by the Spanish Bizilur Association for Cooperation and Development of Peoples. The association was running the “#StopGazaStarvation Gaza Relief Campaign” with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, identified by Israel as an ”arm” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist faction. Concerns were raised that Stripe could be providing “material support” to the PFLP, prompting the financial services company to quietly withdraw from the fundraiser.
GOP Lawmakers Demand Stripe to Cut Ties with Terrorist-Linked Fundraiser
This development highlights the increasing pressure on payment processors to avoid any association, even indirectly, with Hamas or other terrorist factions. According to Israeli officials, the recent Hamas-led attack has resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people in Israel. In late November, PayPal also closed an account for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees fundraiser after receiving letters from the pro-Israel watchdog Zachor Legal Institute, which threatened to involve the IRS and Treasury Department due to their connections with the terror-tied initiative. However, records show that a Spanish company called Laboral Kuxta is still allowing Bizilur to accept wire transfers for the fundraiser through a bank account.
The Union of Agricultural Work Committees, leading the Gaza fundraising campaign, was identified as the PFLP’s “agricultural” arm in a 1993 report. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express reportedly prohibited the UAWC from using their services in 2018, a year before two of its staffers were charged for their involvement in a PFLP terrorist cell and a roadside bombing that resulted in the death of an Israeli teenager. Bashir al Khairi, a former leader of the PFLP, used to be the president of the UAWC’s board of trustees. The PFLP was one of the Palestinian terrorist factions involved in the October 7 attack.
“As we, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, spearhead this international campaign, we are joined by a coalition of partners and allies worldwide,” states the Gaza fundraiser’s website. “Their engagement in this campaign amplifies our call, aiming to turn the tide of suffering into a wave of support. The use of starvation by the Israeli occupation as a weapon in its deplorable warfare against 2.3 million Palestinians is an affront to humanity, demanding global action to expose and hold accountable those responsible.”
Members of Congress have called on Stripe to sever ties with the fundraiser, which is currently under investigation by pro-Israel investigators on various committees. Rep. Greg Murphy expressed his concern about the funding of terrorist activities and emphasized the need for aggressive solutions. The UAWC’s fundraiser website accuses Israel of “genocide” and an “ethnic cleansing campaign in the West Bank.” The UAWC has received millions of dollars in grants from the European Union, United Nations, and several countries, according to funding records compiled by the Israeli NGO Monitor watchdog group.
The UAWC, established by the PFLP, has faced scrutiny for its ties to the terrorist faction. The Dutch government decided to stop granting funds to the UAWC in 2022 due to individual connections between UAWC staff and board members and the PFLP. Stripe has declined to comment on the matter.
Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner
How does the recent Hamas-led attack in Israel contribute to the increased scrutiny faced by payment processors?
Involvement in a terrorist attack. It is important to note that the UAWC denies any affiliation with the PFLP and claims to be an independent agricultural organization.
The decision by Stripe to disassociate itself from the fundraiser came after pressure from Republican lawmakers, who demanded that the payment processor cut ties with the terrorist-linked initiative. Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both prominent figures within the Republican Party, criticized Stripe for enabling the terrorist group’s fundraising efforts by allowing credit card donations.
This incident sheds light on the growing scrutiny faced by payment processors to ensure that their services are not utilized by terrorist organizations or initiatives with terrorist ties. Given the recent deadly Hamas-led attack in Israel, which resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, there is an increased sensitivity surrounding any potential support, even indirect, to such factions.
The actions taken by PayPal to close the account of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees fundraiser further underscores the commitment of payment processors to adhere to these stringent standards. PayPal’s decision came after receiving letters from the pro-Israel watchdog organization, Zachor Legal Institute, which threatened to involve governmental authorities due to their perceived connections with the terror-tied initiative.
Although PayPal’s actions demonstrate a strong stance against supporting terrorism, it is concerning to note that Bizilur, the Spanish affiliate of the fundraiser, can still accept wire transfers through a bank account operated by a company called Laboral Kuxta. This raises questions about the effectiveness of measures in preventing financial support from reaching terrorist-linked organizations.
Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that the Union of Agricultural Work Committees remains adamant about its independence from the PFLP. However, reports from 2018 indicate that major credit card companies such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express have already prohibited the UAWC from using their services, citing concerns about its affiliations.
In conclusion, the case of the Gaza fundraiser linked to a terrorist group losing credit card donations highlights the increased pressure on payment processors to distance themselves from any association, either direct or indirect, with terrorist organizations. The actions taken by Stripe and PayPal demonstrate the commitment of these companies to ensuring that their services are not utilized to support terrorism. Nonetheless, concerns persist about the efficacy of these measures, as evidenced by Bizilur’s ability to continue receiving financial support through alternative means. It is imperative for stakeholders to continue working together to strengthen financial regulations and prevent the flow of funds to terrorist organizations.
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