Israel urged to allow humanitarians to continue working in Palestine
On Thursday morning, Israeli Forces broke into, searched and sealed the offices of seven Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations³ in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Their property was confiscated and destroyed and military orders closing the offices were left at the premises.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Palestine Lynn Hastings said that attempted closures “affect all institutions working to promote human rights and development and are delivering assistance”.
Lodging charges
The United Nations and its partners take seriously allegations of funding terrorism as well as the Israeli designations of these entities as unlawful and/or terror organizations.
Despite offers to review the accusations to determine if funds have been diverted, Israeli authorities have not given any compelling evidence to UN agencies nor NGO partners working in the OPT to support these designations.
Several Member States recently announced that the evidence which was shared with them does not justify the designations.
“The attempted closures of these organization offices represent the latest in a series of actions by Israel that are further limiting the ability of human rights, humanitarian and development work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which affect all institutions working to promote human rights, development and delivering assistance,” the UN Agencies and the Association of International Development Agencies said in a statement.
Follow international law
The statement reiterated a previous one issued last November upholding that counter-terrorism legislation must be in accordance with obligations under international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights law.
This includes full respect for the rights to freedom of association and expression.
It cannot be applied to legitimate human rights and humanitarian work; the breadth of the Israeli 2016 Anti-Terrorism legislation and its impact on the presumption of innocence present serious concerns under international law.
“We urge the Government of Israel to refrain from any action that would prevent these organizations from continuing their critical human rights, humanitarian and development work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the statement concluded.
© UN News (2022) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: UN News
Where next?
Browse related news topics:
Read the latest news stories:
- International Diplomat Erik Solheim on Politics, Climate Change, Much-Needed UN Reform and Trump Monday, May 20, 2024
- Haiti: Multinational mission and the “inexorable requirement to restore security conditions” Monday, May 20, 2024
- Syria: WHO Regional Director calls for greater investment in health sector Sunday, May 19, 2024
- Gaza: Nearly 800,000 now displaced from Rafah Saturday, May 18, 2024
- Rising Temperatures Drive Human-Wildlife Conflict in Zimbabwe Friday, May 17, 2024
- Women Organize to Fight Coastal Erosion in Southeastern Brazil Friday, May 17, 2024
- More Diversified Trade Can Make Middle East & Central Asia More Resilient Friday, May 17, 2024
- India’s LGBTQIA+ community notches legal wins but still faces societal hurdles to acceptance, equal rights Friday, May 17, 2024
- UN rights office urges Sri Lanka to reveal fate of the disappeared Friday, May 17, 2024
- Israel refutes South Africa’s accusations at UN world court Friday, May 17, 2024
Learn more about the related issues: