.png)
The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict has caused widespread displacement and economic damage, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. Given the current political, social, and economic landscape, many are looking to aid in this distress. There are currently no restrictions on providing aid to Israel.
The Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has released the Compliance Communique, Guidance for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance to the Palestinian People. The guidance document serves as a broad FAQ, covering various issues involving sanctions while attempting to provide aid to Gaza. It provides information on six overarching subjects related to relief and sanctions compliance:
Allowed activities under the NGO general licenses
Donating money to NGOs to help with humanitarian efforts in Gaza/West Bank
Donating goods/services to NGOs to help with humanitarian effort in Gaza/West Bank
Use of fuel/gas for NGO organizations in Gaza/West Bank
Authorization to transfer funds to specific groups
Blocking of governing institutions/leaders under GTSR or FTOSR
Overall, the document states that the U.S. Department of Treasury is dedicated to denying Hamas access to funds while also ensuring that legitimate humanitarian aid can still reach the people of Palestine. It is important to stay educated on the specific regulations and definitions on what makes humanitarian aid “legitimate.”
Do you find certain sections of the notice unclear? Is your business looking to offer relief efforts to the Palestinian people? Do you provide services or products that may be beneficial to Gaza or the West Bank? If you have more questions, give our office a call today at (917) 546-6997, we would be happy to speak with you.
Ready to Learn More About CBP, OFAC,
BIS, FWS, and FDA?
We have dozens (literally!) of videos in our educational library on our YouTube channel related to importing, exporting, US Customs, BIS, OFAC, FWS, FDA, NFTs, and so much more. Subscribe to our channel now to stay up to date on the latest on these topics!
Our law firm helps growing companies who import and export comply with government regulations. We love what we do and we take our oath of confidentiality over your matters very seriously. How much? Watch this video to learn about it. CLICK HERE
Wondering "why should you have an attorney on your side?" Click here to watch one of our attorneys, Susan Steinman, break down the critical benefits as to why you want to have one on your side - whether you hire us to help you or another law firm.
Have questions? We are determined to help you.
We listen carefully to clients to ensure our understanding of the legal issues at hand, their factual context, and any limitations that might impact a chosen strategy. Feel free to connect with us using the contact form at the bottom of the Home page or send us an email at contact@clarkespositolaw.com.