Israel Labels Six Palestinian Human Rights Organisations as “Terrorists”

Israel Labels Six Palestinian Human Rights Organisations as “Terrorists”
Photo: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP

Gonçalo Quitério

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

In the last week, the Israeli Government has issued a military order designating six prominent Palestinian human rights groups as “terrorist organisations”. This decision already deserved the condemnation by the Palestinian Authority, United Nations, International Amnesty, Human Rights watch, among other Human Rights organisations. 

In a weak and not elaborated statement, the Israeli forces accused the organisations of serving as a “central source” of financing for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and blamed them of having received “large sums of money from European countries and international organisations”.

The PA already condemned what was said, affirming that it is an “unhinged assault” on Palestinian civil society. Also, the International Amnesty and Human Rights Watch noted that the military order “effectively outlaws” the activities of the six groups. Therefore, as a consequence, Israeli security forces are authorised to close the groups’ offices, seize their assets and arrest and jail their staff members. Funding or even publicly expressing support for their activities is also prohibited, which was classified by International Amnesty and Human Rights Watch as “appalling and unjust decision” that is violating the respect of Human Rights. This moves by the Israeli authorities are also being classified by the Human Rights groups a “systematic assault on human rights advocacy”.

Also, Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said in a tweet that she was alarmed by the news.

Sources and further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/22/israel-palestinian-human-rights-groups-terrorism 

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-concerned-by-israel-labeling-palestinian-rights-groups-terror-organizations/2400482