Middle East Subcommittee Chairman Mike Lawler (NY-17), along with a group of bipartisan Representatives and Senators, has reintroduced legislation to sanction the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC). The bill now enters the Senate for the first time, introduced by Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), marking a push to include the PRC in the U.S.’s list of designated terrorist organizations.
The PRC, identified as the third largest terrorist group in Gaza, has been involved in numerous attacks targeting Israelis, Americans, and Palestinians since its inception in 2000. Despite previous terrorist activities, including the involvement in the October 7th massacre alongside Hamas, leading to the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 250 hostages, the group has yet to face U.S. sanctions.
Legislation, known as the “Accountability for Terrorist Perpetrators of October 7th Act,” proposed imposing sanctions on the PRC. Once designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, PRC members would be subject to criminal and civil penalties. The act applies financial asset-blocking sanctions and visa-blocking sanctions, making support to the group punishable by law.
Lawmakers such as Congressman Mike Lawler and Congressman Brad Sherman emphasize the necessity of the legislation. “The Popular Resistance Committees have long been a dangerous and violent force in Gaza,” said Lawler. He further stated it is imperative to ensure the PRC faces sanctions. Sherman added, “Every day that we fail to sanction the terrorist Popular Resistance Committees is another day that we fail to secure justice for their victims.”
Senator Pete Ricketts highlighted, “Despite decades of attacks against Americans and Israelis, the PRC has yet to be properly sanctioned for its barbarism.” Similarly, Congressman Brad Schneider stressed the urgency due to the group’s involvement in the October 7th massacre.
Efforts continue to move the legislation forward to impose global financial restraints on the PRC, aligning them with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which have already been sanctioned. Congressman David Kustoff, highlighting the prolonged terror by PRC, noted, “Enough is enough.”
Senator Adam Schiff underlined the critical nature of the act in holding the PRC accountable, stating, “Any organization engaging in this level of violence should be sanctioned under U.S. law.” The legislation aims to cut the PRC off from financial networks and apply pressures similar to those placed on other terrorist organizations.
