NGO Action News – 13 June 2024

This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information “as is” without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter. Translations of the NGO Action News in other languages will be available in due course.

You may find previous issues of the NGO Action News in Spanish here.

You may find issues of the NGO Action News in French here.

You may find issues of the NGO Action News in Arabic here.

United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

NGO Action News

13 June 2024

Middle East

• On 10 June, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies published an article calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Reacting to a recent Israeli operation, in which reportedly over 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 wounded, the NGO stated that countries must immediately and unconditionally stop sending financial and arms support that enables Israel’s military attacks in Gaza at an intolerable cost to Palestinian lives and to the rules-based international order. Al Mezan published a press release on this issue as well.
• On 10 June, Gisha informed that Israel’s High Court of Justice instructed the government to explain why it did not act to increase the supply of aid and facilitate its distribution to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. This proceeding follows a petition filled by Gisha, together with Adalah, ACRI, HaMoked, and Physicians for Human Rights Israel, demanding Israel’s High Court to order the state to enable access of all humanitarian aid, facilitate its distribution in Gaza, and provide for the needs of the civilian population in keeping with Israel’s obligations as the occupying power and as a party to the hostilities.
• On 6 June, 7amleh concluded the eighth edition of the Palestine Digital Activism Forum.
  The event, titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI): Revolutionary Promises & Discriminatory Realities,” was attended by more than 1,200 participants from around the world. It hosted
  70 speakers and saw collaboration with 50 partner organizations from around the world. Participants gathered for critical discussions and learning, proposing ideas on how the development of AI must align with human rights standards, guaranteeing a safe, fair, and
  free digital space for everyone.

Asia and Europe

• On 12 June, Diakonia published the report “Legality of Restrictions on the Freedoms of Expression, Assembly, and Association in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. With this publication, the NGO examined the legality of restrictive measures applied by Israel in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that limited the exercise of the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly in light of Israel’s obligations under the law of occupation and international human rights law.
• On 11 June, the Palestinian Return Centre published the report “Mass Graves in the Gaza Strip – World’s 1st Genocide Broadcast Live amid International Silence”. The NGO stated that the report provided evidence of war crimes committed against Palestinian civilians by the Israeli forces. The report documented the recovery of hundreds of bodies showing signs of torture, execution, and mutilation.
• On 9 June, Law For Palestine informed that Al-Haq Europe and SOMO – the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations have jointly published an expert legal opinion focusing on the obligations of Third States and corporations in preventing and punishing what the paper considered to be a genocide in Gaza. The legal study scrutinized the legal implications of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) order in the case of South Africa
  Israel, specifically regarding the roles and responsibilities of Third States and corporations.

North America

• On 20 June, Americans for Peace Now will organise the webinar “Looking to the Future: Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah on a Post-October-7th World”. The NGO informed that the two speakers, who have lost family to the recent conflict, will share their vision for the future: one where Israelis and Palestinians can move forward and live side by side. The speakers will be Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian peacebuilder, entrepreneur, and international speaker; and Maoz Inon, an Israeli social entrepreneur and peace activist.

United Nations

• On 26 June, at 3 p.m., the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will convene a Committee Meeting in the Trusteeship Chamber at UNHQ in New York. At this meeting, the Committee will elect a Vice Chair of the Committee and Mr. Paul S. Reichler, a globally recognized figure in public international law, will brief the Committee. Mr. Reichler represented the State of Palestine at the recent proceedings at the International Court of Justice on the case regarding the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The meeting will be broadcast live on UN Web TV.
• On 11 June, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, called for urgent action to support the humanitarian response for Gaza. Griffiths stated that all crossings must be open and functioning in full capacity. Entry requirements for humanitarian supplies and personnel must be streamlined. Safe, conducive and enabling conditions for humanitarian aid workers have to be ensured for the effective reception and provision of aid to civilians in need throughout Gaza, and the UN Flash Appeal for Gaza must be fully funded. He further reaffirmed the essential role of UNRWA, whose staff and premises have been and continue to be and will be the backbone of the humanitarian operation.
• On 11 June, the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jeremy Laurence, stated that OHCHR was shocked by the impact on civilians of the recent Israeli forces’ operation in Nuseirat, in the Gaza Strip, to free four hostages. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, welcomed Security Council Resolution 2735 calling for a full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian armed groups, the return of the remains of dead hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. An immediate priority must be to ensure the full and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid to the desperate population of Gaza.
• On 11 June, WHO published the report “WHO’s response in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. The report highlighted that the current violence came in the context of ongoing occupation, blockade of the Gaza Strip, political division, and long-term displacement of Palestinian refugees, which contributed to severely worsened humanitarian needs and vulnerabilities. WHO stated that, following the attacks in Israel on 7 October and subsequent start of the attacks on Gaza, the Organization immediately reprogrammed funds to procure essential medical supplies to ensure continuity of essential health services in Gaza.