August 14, 2016
Israel/Palestine: Palestinian Rights Defenders Threatened
2 Groups Seeking Accountability at ICC Are Targeted
(Jerusalem) – New anonymous death threats have been made against staff members of a Palestinian human rights organization advocating an investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes in Palestine.
The Gaza-based Al-Mezan issued a statement on August 11, 2016, that a staff member working in Europe reported receiving three anonymous email threats. The last email, sent on August 10, whose contents were shared with Human Rights Watch, was accompanied by photographs of the exterior of his home and read in part, “you deserve to see your loved ones suffer and die. But maybe you would be hurt before them.”
Since last year, unknown people have sent threats to staff members of Al-Mezan and the Ramallah-based Al Haq and spread false information to their donors, including in forged communications purporting to come from staff members, officials, and auditors. For security reasons, Human Rights Watch is not disclosing the location of the Al-Mezan employee.
Document Sources: Human Rights Watch
Subject: Human rights and international humanitarian law, Security issues
Publication Date: 14/08/2016