On October 19, Israel issued a military order designating six prominent Palestinian human rights and civil society groups as “terrorist organizations.” Raja Shehadah, Palestinian lawyer and co-founder of Al-Haq, one of the organizations targeted, explained that Israel can arrest and imprison any staff member or supporter of these six organizations. Further more Israel can confiscate their assets and prevent donations from reaching them.
This military order demonstrates that Israel is intent on crushing the Palestinian movement for freedom and human rights.
Benny Gantz, Israel’s Minister of Defense, stated that the organizations funneled donations to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), but gave no evidence to support his claim. The U.S. and the European Union consider the PFLP a terrorist organization.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating Gantz for war crimes perpetrated against Gaza; Al-Haq was one of the organizations that brought the case against Gantz to the ICC.
The Six Targeted Groups and What Each Does
- AL-HAQ. Founded in 1979, Al-Haq is the leading Palestinian human rights organization pushing for accountability for Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity at the ICC. Al-Haq documents human rights violations in Palestine irrespective if the perpetrator is the Israeli Defense Forces, the Palestinian Authority, or Hamas.
- DEFENSE OF CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL-PALESTINE. Founded in 1991, DCI-P investigates, documents, and exposes human rights violations against Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. Detained Palestinian children routinely undergo physical abuse and are frequently denied adequate access to a lawyer and their families.
- ADDAMEER: Founded in 1991, Addameer tracks Israel’s mass incarceration of Palestinian children, political prisoners, and those imprisoned without charge or trial. Addameer advocates for Palestinian prisoners experiencing human rights abuses in Israeli and Palestinian Authority prisons.
- THE UNION OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN’S COMMITTEES. Founded in 1980, UPWC works to empower Palestinian women, encouraging them to participate in civil society institutions and to become economically independent. UPWC provides educational opportunities for women and kindergartens so women with young children are free to attend classes and work.
- THE UNION OF AGRICULTURAL WORK COMMITTEES. Founded in 1986, the UAWC promotes the rights of Palestinian farmers facing land theft and violence under Israeli military occupation.
- BISAN CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Bisan works to empower Palestinian grassroots groups and to end violence against women. Bisan develops community youth programs and works to end corruption.
WILPF Signed onto Letter Supporting Palestinian Human Rights
WILPF was one of 288 U.S. organizations that signed an October 29 letter to Secretary of State Blinken demanding that the U.S. government condemn Israel for this action. The letter asks the U.S. government to require Israel to immediately reverse its October 19 military order and end efforts to delegitimize and criminalize Palestinian human rights defenders. The letter also demands that the U.S. support Palestinians in their efforts for justice and accountability, including at the ICC.
Among the organizations who signed the letter are Churches for Middle East Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Amnesty USA, Kairos US, and Human Rights Watch.
Supportive Action in the House
On October 28, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced House Resolution 751, which calls on the US House of Representatives to 1) condemn Israel’s military order against the six prominent Palestinian human rights and civil society groups and to 2) call for its immediate reversal. The Congressional switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
PLEASE PHONE OR EMAIL YOUR CONGRESS MEMBER TO SUPPORT H.R. 751.
The Middle East Peace and Justice Action Committee (MEPJAC) thanks you for taking action to stand up for the Palestinians. To paraphrase Martin Luther King, Jr., an attack on human rights anywhere is an attack on human rights everywhere.
Genie Silver
Member of MEPJAC
