Twenty-four UN-appointed independent human rights experts
condemned on Wednesday, Israel’s escalating attacks against
Palestinian civil society in the occupied West Bank, describing
it as “illegal and unacceptable.”
During a raid last week, the Israeli army broke into and
shut down the offices of seven Palestinian human rights and
humanitarian groups operating in Ramallah, located in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
“These actions amount to severe suppression of human rights
defenders and are illegal and unacceptable,”
the experts said,
encouraging UN Member States to use international law to end the
abuses.
‘Unlawful’ designations
Last Thursday at dawn, Israeli forces raided the offices of
seven Palestinian human rights groups causing extensive property
damage and issuing military orders to shut them down.
This followed Israel’s earlier characterization of those
organizations as “terrorist” and “unlawful”.
“These designations and declarations are illegitimate and
unjustifiable and no concrete and credible evidence
substantiating Israel’s allegations has ever been provided,” said
the experts, echoing observations that
they had made in April.
Hurling accusations
On 18 and 21 August, Israeli security service Shin Bet
interrogated the directors of the Union of Palestinian Women’s
Committees, Al-Haq and Defence for Children-Palestine – three of
the seven shuttered organizations.
The experts were particularly concerned over alleged threats made
by Shin Bet against the organizations, including a public
statement regarding Al-Haq’s director, Shawan
Jabarin.
