“Israel” cracks down on 6 Palestinian NGOs in Ramallah, Al-Bireh

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Aug 2022 09:55

The organizations in question are renowned for documenting the Israeli occupation’s crimes of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians.

Israeli occupation forces (Archive)

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) brutally raided six human rights organizations and research centers in Ramallah and Al-Bireh, violating their spaces, and illegally vandalizing confidential information and testimonies.

The organizations in question are renowned for documenting the Israeli occupation’s crimes of apartheid and persecution.

Palestinian Wafa news agency reported citing local security officials that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed Ramallah and Al-Bireh, raiding the ADDAMEER (Arabic for conscience) Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Defense for Children International – Palestine, Al-Haq, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, as well as Bisan Center for Research and Development.

🚨🚨Breaking: This morning, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided Al-Haq’s office in Ramallah, confiscated items and shut down the main entrance with an iron plate leaving behind a military order declaring the organization unlawful 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Y8yqRdU4Db
— Al-Haq الحق (@alhaq_org) August 18, 2022

After damaging and stealing their belongings, the occupation forces closed the six human rights institutions and installed iron plates on their gates.

BREAKING 🚨 The Israeli occupation forces raided UAWC’s office early this morning 18th of August, as well as the offices of the other #6organizations. They destroyed office equipment, confiscated materials and left a closing order behind. pic.twitter.com/hVaHrRIaKS
— Union of Agricultural Work Committees (@UAWC1986) August 18, 2022

It is worth noting that Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz affirmed Thursday that three Palestinian NGOs that “Israel” blacklisted last year will be permanently designated as “terrorist organizations” for allegedly assisting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

This is happening shortly after several European countries dismissed the Israeli "terrorist" designation for Palestinian NGOs.

Nine states in the European Union stated that they would continue to work with the six Palestinian civil society organizations that “Israel” labeled as "terrorist" last year due to a lack of evidence.

A look back

In October 2021, Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz designated six Palestinian civil society organizations as terrorist organizations.

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The “terror declaration” appeared to open the door for “Israel” to raid their offices, seize assets, arrest employees, and criminalize any public expressions of support for the groups. However, all six have continued to operate.

The logos of the Six Palestinian NGO's

At the time, the move has been widely condemned by human rights activists. Both the United Nations and human rights organizations denounced the declaration.

In April, UN human rights experts called on the international community to re-fund Palestinian civil society organizations.

In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen English, Lobby and Advocacy Director at the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) Moayyad Bsharat commented on "Israel's" decision to designate UAWC among five other Palestinian organizations as "terrorist", saying, "as a Palestinian agricultural institution, we have been subjected to persecution and incitement campaigns by Israeli organizations for more than ten years.

"The occupation and its settlers have a racist colonial project in the region, which is not restricted to plundering, confiscating, and occupying the land, but extends to uprooting the Palestinians entirely from it."

"For us, the Israeli occupation's decision is an intense expression of the size and importance of the work we are doing, and this is a renewed affirmation that we will pursue our mission and will not leave the Palestinian farmers who are facing the occupation on their own," Bsharat concluded.