Charlotte Kates: The Face of Samidoun and the Global Crackdown on “Resistance”
Executive Summary
In a recent interview with the controversial organization Unity of Fields, Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator of Samidoun, defended her group against accusations of terrorism and insisted that its advocacy for Palestinian prisoners is a legitimate form of political struggle. As governments worldwide crack down on pro-Palestinian organizations linked to militant groups, Kates remains defiant, rejecting Western legal designations and portraying her group as a vanguard of global resistance.
Analysis
Charlotte Kates has emerged as one of the most polarizing figures in the international pro-Palestinian movement, consistently defending Samidoun’s activities while dismissing allegations that it serves as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In a recent interview with Unity of Fields, Kates reinforced her ideological commitments, attacking Western governments for what she calls “imperialist repression” and rejecting accusations that her organization provides material support to terrorism.
Kates framed the recent designations of Samidoun as a “terrorist entity” by the U.S., Canada, and Germany as an extension of Western colonialism. She argued that these governments fear the power of global solidarity movements and are attempting to silence voices that challenge Israeli policies. However, intelligence assessments, government reports, and independent investigations suggest that Samidoun operates far beyond the realm of political activism, functioning as a logistical and financial support network for the PFLP, a designated terrorist organization known for attacks on civilians.
In her interview, Kates explicitly defended the right of Palestinians to use “all forms of resistance,” a phrase that has long been used by militant groups to justify attacks on civilians. This rhetoric is consistent with Samidoun’s broader messaging, which has included public celebrations of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Kates was herself arrested in Vancouver in April 2024 for calling the massacre “heroic and brave” during a rally, an event that triggered investigations into whether her remarks constituted hate speech.
Her unapologetic stance extends to her personal connections. Kates is married to Khaled Barakat, a senior PFLP member who has been repeatedly banned from entering various Western countries due to his affiliation with the group. Despite this, she insists that Samidoun has no organizational ties to the PFLP, a claim contradicted by multiple intelligence sources and official government statements.
Beyond rhetoric, Samidoun has been linked to direct actions that go beyond mere advocacy. The organization has played a role in radicalizing student movements, particularly in the United States, where it has coordinated with groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). According to security reports, Samidoun provided ideological training to students at Columbia University ahead of the anti-Israel encampments in the spring of 2024. During one such session, Kates told students, “There is nothing wrong with being a member of Hamas,” a statement that was widely condemned but also gained traction among radical elements of the movement.
Governments are now taking more aggressive action against groups like Samidoun. Canada’s decision to officially designate it as a terrorist entity criminalizes any financial or logistical support for the group. The U.S. Treasury Department has frozen its assets, and Germany had already banned the organization in 2023. These measures indicate that Western intelligence agencies are treating Samidoun not as a mere advocacy group but as an operational extension of a known terrorist network.
Kates, however, remains undeterred. She insists that Samidoun will continue its work despite these legal obstacles. In her Unity of Fields interview, she reiterated that Samidoun is “steadfast” in its commitment to Palestinian prisoners and will not be silenced by what she calls “Zionist and imperialist repression.” This defiance has only deepened concerns that Samidoun and its affiliates will continue to operate underground, adapting their tactics to evade government crackdowns.
The larger question remains: How far will Western governments go in dismantling networks like Samidoun, and will these efforts actually curb the influence of militant-linked organizations, or will they push them further into clandestine operations? As Kates doubles down on her position, the battle over the legitimacy of “resistance” versus terrorism is intensifying, with no clear resolution in sight.
