{"id":2114975,"date":"2023-12-04T07:00:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T12:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-lawmakers-call-on-stripe-to-cut-ties-with-terrorist-tied-fundraiser-helping-hamas\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T07:02:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T12:02:04","slug":"gop-lawmakers-call-on-stripe-to-cut-ties-with-terrorist-tied-fundraiser-helping-hamas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-lawmakers-call-on-stripe-to-cut-ties-with-terrorist-tied-fundraiser-helping-hamas\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP lawmakers urge Stripe to sever ties with terrorist-linked fundraiser, accusing them of aiding Hamas"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgop-lawmakers-call-on-stripe-to-cut-ties-with-terrorist-tied-fundraiser-helping-hamas%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2114975&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Exclusive: Stripe Faces Backlash for Supporting Fundraiser\u200d Linked to Palestinian Terrorism<\/h2>\n<p>The financial services\u2064 company Stripe is facing criticism from Republican senators\u2064 and House members for allowing \u200da fundraiser associated with an Israeli-designated terrorist\u200c group to \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/left-wing-arabella-advisors-dark-money-groups-cut-ties-with-palestinian-terror-tied-charity\/\" title=\"Left-wing Arabella Advisors ends association with Palestinian charity linked to terrorism.\">accept credit card donations<\/a>. \u200dLegal experts have expressed concerns that Stripe may be providing \u2064&#8221;material support&#8221; to terrorism. The fundraiser in question is the &#8220;#StopGazaStarvation Gaza Relief Campaign&#8221; organized by \u2062the Spanish Bizilur Association for Cooperation and Development of Peoples in partnership \u2064with \u200dthe \u200dUnion of\u2064 Agricultural \u2063Work Committees (UAWC). Israel has\u2062 identified UAWC as an &#8220;arm&#8221; of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terror faction.<\/p>\n<h3>Lawmakers Call for Action<\/h3>\n<p>Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio, are urging\u2063 Stripe to sever ties with the fundraiser \u2064and stand \u2064with\u200b Israel. They argue that Stripe, like other big tech companies, should not be exempt \u2064from laws prohibiting support\u2063 for\u2063 terrorism. \u200cThe House committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services,\u2064 and Ways and \u2062Means are also considering investigations into Stripe and other payment processors that may be indirectly supporting terrorism.<\/p>\n<h3>Background on UAWC and\u2064 PFLP<\/h3>\n<p>The \u200bUAWC, based in \u2064the West Bank, is considered the &#8220;agricultural organization&#8221; of the PFLP, according to a 1993 report by Middle East expert Glenn Robinson. In 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/over-700-survivors-advocates-call-on-congress-for-criminal-investigation-into-pornhubs-parent-company\/\" title=\"Over 700 Survivors, Advocates Call On Congress For Criminal Investigation Into Pornhub\u2019s Parent Company\">major credit card companies<\/a> such as Visa, Mastercard, and American\u2064 Express barred UAWC from \u200cusing\u200b their services due to its ties to the PFLP. UAWC staffers have been\u2064 charged for their involvement in PFLP terror \u2063activities, including a roadside bombing that killed an\u2062 Israeli teenager. Despite these connections, UAWC continues to receive grants from various countries and international organizations.<\/p>\n<h3>Pressure Mounts on Stripe<\/h3>\n<p>Stripe is facing increasing pressure\u200c to cut ties with the Gaza fundraiser. Rep. Mike Lawler, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs\u200c Committee, has called on Stripe to follow PayPal&#8217;s example and drop the account.\u200b Rep.\u200c Anthony \u2063D&#8217;Esposito\u2062 and Rep. Greg Murphy have\u200b also\u2063 expressed their concerns about terrorist activities \u200cbeing funded under their noses and the need for aggressive \u200daction to combat it.<\/p>\n<h3>Concerns Over Terrorist Financing<\/h3>\n<p>The House Ways and \u2063Means Committee \u2062recently held a\u2062 hearing\u2062 on \u200dforeign terrorist financing through \u2062U.S. charities. Testimony from experts highlighted how terrorist organizations like Hamas have exploited the U.S. financial system to send millions\u2064 of dollars overseas. Lawmakers are calling for private organizations to reject any association with groups promoting hate speech and violence.<\/p>\n<h3>UAWC&#8217;s Fundraiser and Accusations Against\u200c Israel<\/h3>\n<p>The UAWC and Bizilur fundraiser website\u200c accuses\u200c Israel of &#8220;genocide&#8221; and an &#8220;ethnic cleansing campaign in the West Bank.&#8221; Despite claiming to\u2062 be politically neutral, UAWC \u200chas strong \u2064ties to \u200dthe PFLP, which controls the organization. The Dutch government has suspended funding to UAWC due to these ties, \u2063and other countries and international organizations\u200d have provided\u2062 substantial grants to UAWC \u2064in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Stripe \u2063has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Anyone who is knowingly helping\u200c Hamas is aiding \u2062terrorists who have committed unspeakable acts against innocent civilians,&#8221; said Rep. Tim Burchett, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>What are the goals of \u2063the PFLP?<\/h2>\n<p><span>It\u2062 combines Arab nationalism with Marxist-Leninist ideology, viewing the destruction of\u2064 Israel as integral to the struggle to remove Western capitalism\u2062 from\u2064 the Middle East and ultimately establish a Communist Palestinian state\u2064 with Jerusalem as its capital. \u200cEd transactions \u2064to UAWC due \u2064to its involvement with terrorism.\u2062 The PFLP,\u200b designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Canada, and Israel, has been responsible for numerous attacks targeting civilians, including airplane hijackings and bombings, since its formation in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, UAWC has been involved in\u200c providing financial support and aid to families of terrorists, as well as promoting and glorifying acts of violence against Israelis. In addition, the \u2062organization has been accused of \u2064using its \u200dagricultural activities as a cover for furthering the objectives of the PFLP.<\/p>\n<h3>Stripe&#8217;s Response<\/h3>\n<p>In response \u2063to the backlash, Stripe has stated that it relies on third-party sanctions lists, \u200dsuch as those provided by \u200bthe U.S. Department of the Treasury&#8217;s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), to determine whether an organization or\u2063 individual\u2062 is subject to sanctions. As UAWC \u2062is not currently listed by\u2063 OFAC,\u200b Stripe argues that it is not in violation of any laws by processing transactions for the fundraiser.<\/p>\n<p>However, legal experts have highlighted the potential \u2063risks associated with Stripe&#8217;s approach. The material support statute in the United States defines material support to include &#8220;expert advice or assistance.&#8221; By providing a platform for the \u2062fundraising campaign, Stripe\u2062 may be\u2063 seen as providing\u2064 assistance to\u2063 an organization linked to terrorism, thereby potentially falling \u2062within the boundaries of the law.<\/p>\n<h3>Implications for Tech Companies<\/h3>\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/disney-fired-beijing-staff-just-before-gop-china-hawk-questioned-ceo-report\/\" title=\"Disney fired Beijing staff shortly before a GOP China hawk questioned the CEO, according to a report.\">controversy raises broader questions<\/a>\u2063 about the\u2062 responsibility of tech companies, particularly payment processors, in preventing support for terrorism. While companies like Stripe have policies in place to prevent transactions related to illegal\u200c activities, there may be \u200da need for a\u2062 more proactive approach to identify\u200b and\u2064 address instances where funds are being funneled to terrorist organizations or their affiliates.<\/p>\n<p>As technology\u2062 continues to advance, so do\u2062 the methods used by terrorist groups to finance their activities. It is crucial for tech companies to adapt their compliance and due diligence measures to effectively mitigate these risks. Failure to do so\u2064 could expose these companies \u2062to legal and reputational consequences, in addition to facilitating the financing of terrorism.<\/p>\n<h3>The Way \u2064Forward<\/h3>\n<p>In light of the \u2064concerns raised, it is imperative for \u200dStripe and other payment\u200d processors to reevaluate their processes and \u200censure they are not inadvertently supporting terrorism. This includes conducting robust and\u200b ongoing due diligence on the organizations\u2064 they \u200cpartner with, as well as enhancing their monitoring capabilities \u2064to detect and prevent transactions\u200d associated with terrorism or other illegal activities.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, there is a need for clearer guidelines and regulations from governments and international bodies to assist tech companies in navigating this complex issue. Collaboration between governments, law enforcement agencies, and private sector entities \u2062is vital to effectively combat the financing of terrorism while preserving privacy and security.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion,\u2064 the current controversy surrounding Stripe&#8217;s support for the Gaza Relief Campaign organized by the UAWC highlights the challenges faced\u2062 by tech \u2063companies in \u200bpreventing support for terrorism. \u200cIt calls for a comprehensive and proactive approach, balancing the \u2064need to prevent\u200b terrorist financing with the respect for\u2062 privacy and security. The outcome of this debate will have wider implications for\u200c the tech industry and its role in the global fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Financial platform to be used for fundraising by an Israeli-designated terrorist group. Republican senators and House members are criticizing Stripe for potentially offering &#8220;material support&#8221; to terrorism. Legal experts have expressed concerns about the company&#8217;s actions, following a report by the Washington Examiner in November<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2114976,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2114975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2114975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2114975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2114975\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2114976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2114975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2114975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2114975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}