NGO Action News – 14 March 2024

Middle East

• On 14 March, BADIL denounced the activation of a maritime humanitarian corridor by Israel, as it ignored the existence of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. BADIL quoted UN agencies and human rights experts, which called on Israel to allow access at the existing land-based checkpoints citing that ground deliveries are the most effective way to provide urgent and immediate relief.
• On 12 March, Al-Haq announced that – jointly with Oxfam, Amnesty International Denmark and Action Aid Denmark – it is suing the Danish National Police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs as they violate international rules on arms trade and risk becoming complicit in violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, and a plausible genocide. The four organisations are taking legal action to end Danish exports of weapons and military equipment to Israel.
• On 12 March, Israeli human rights organisations including Hamoked, Breaking the Silence, Emek Shavek, Gisha, Ir Amim, Yesh Din and others issued a joint press release to urge Israel’s compliance with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). They condemned the fact that Israel has so far failed to change its behavior based on the measures imposed by the ICJ, as well as the fact that humanitarian aid to Gaza dropped by 50 per cent in the month following the ruling. They called for an immediate ceasefire, which must include the return of the hostages.
• On 12 March, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights published “Testimonies from Gaza” recounting the story of a 21-year-old female resident of Khan Younis about an Israeli attack that killed her husband and 16 others on 3 December 2023.
• On 10 March, Yesh Din issued the press release “HCJ Petition: Jordan Valley Regional Council is Acting without Authority and is Confiscating Palestinians’ Livestock”. It stated that as part of Israel’s policy designed to annex and take over Area C, many cases of settler violence are documented alongside measures taken by the Israeli army and authorities to force the Palestinian communities from their homes. A petition was filed on behalf of Palestinian families, to the High Court of Justice, to demand the return of all confiscated livestock, pay back the sums paid for confiscation and refrain from applying the council bylaw concerning grazing to the petitioners and their herds.
• On 10 March, Peace Now denounced the construction of a new settlement in the heart of the West Bank, known as “Amirim Neighborhood”. It is adjacent to the Palestinian village of Salfit, effectively disconnecting Palestinian villages north of Salfit. Peace Now said the construction is “further proof that the Israeli government is seeking violent escalation and opening a third front of war.”
• On 9 March, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) issued the report “Israel’s Measures Intended to prevent Births within Gaza Strip”. The report emphasizes that the Israeli human rights violations against pregnant women in the Gaza Strip amount to genocidal acts, in particular imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. It called upon the international community to exert pressure on Israel to comply with the legally binding provisional measures order lately issues by the ICJ to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance.
• On 8 March, Al-Haq published the article “Voices from Gaza: The Experiences of Palestinian Women Amid the Ongoing Genocide” on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Al-Haq said it is crucial to elevate the voices and narratives of Palestinian women and particularly women in Gaza, as their stories stand as a testament to their resilience. It reiterated the call for women and organisations and movements worldwide to take prompt action and stand in solidarity against the oppression endured by Palestinian women in Gaza, and who deserve to live in freedom and in dignity.
• On 8 March, Adalah- The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and Kayan – Feminist Organisation issued a joint statement on International Women’s Day to denounce the “severe state of violence, repression, racism and persecution by the Israeli military and other authorities” faced by Palestinian women in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The two NGOs called for an end to the war and to the occupation and for the provision of unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza.
• On 7 March, Defense Children International – Palestine reported that at least 17 Palestinian children have started to death in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people. They denounced the Israeli authorities for repeatedly blocking and severely restricted the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza.
• On 5 March, Diakonia – International Humanitarian Law Centre issued the legal briefing “Responsibility for Conditions of Starvation in Gaza” where it explains Israel’s primary responsibility for the conditions of desperate hunger that drove the people who were killed and injured in the incident and thousands of others to converge on the aid delivery trucks. The legal brief also denounced Israel’s failure to ensure that the population of Gaza is provided with food and other indispensable resources or, at the very least, facilitate provision by others.

Asia and Europe

• On 13 March, the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) issued a statement urging the international community to rapidly resume funding to UNRWA amid the Gaza famine. It also welcomed the decision of Canada to lift a freeze on funding the Agency and of Sweden, which announced that it would send funds, after UNRWA agreed to more checks on its spending and staff.
• On 12 March, the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) called upon the EU and all European countries to take an immediate step to halt the looming ground invasion of Israel into Rafah and force Israel to stop all acts of genocide. It added that it is finally time for Europe to exercise the strongest leverage possible as the largest trading partner of Israel, accounting for almost 30 per cent of Israeli trade in goods. Suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and similar trade measures by major European countries, complemented by a coordinated total arms embargo, are the only way to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

North America

• On 16 March, Students for Justice in Palestine at Mason is organizing the panel “Gaza and the Struggle in Politics, Law and Knowledge Production” featuring Noura Erakat, Jehad Abusalim and Mohammed El-Kurd. The discussions will aim at unraveling the complexities of Palestine’s historical narratives and political landscapes. Speakers will discuss the importance of “decolonizing politics, law, and education to pave the way for Palestinian self-determination and liberation.”
• On 14 March, Americans for Peace Now welcomed the news that the US administration has announced a second round of sanctions under the President’s executive order to address extremist settler violence. These new sanctions target outposts in addition to individuals. As such, they represent a significant step in the effort to address ongoing settler violence.
• On 13 March, Jewish Voice for Peace provided the update “The People’s State of the Union” on protests and activities across the country to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to all US military funding for the Israeli government.

United Nations

• On 3 and 4 April in Geneva, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) will hold a conference of civil society organizations working on the question of Palestine titled “Building bridges with international civil society to address the ongoing Nakba.” Further details of the conference as well as information on how to register are available here.
• On 13 March, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) held a virtual event titled “War on Gaza: Impact on Palestinian Women and Children” on the margin of the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). The Committee Chair moderated the virtual event, with over 30 participants including 12 Member States, which was streamed via UN Web TV. Panelists included a senior UNRWA representative from Gaza, UNFPA, Save the Children International, and a US-Palestinian physician while the State of Palestine made opening remarks. Panelists underscored women’s role “humanitarian diplomacy” and provided personal and family testimonies on harrowing living conditions, including severe malnutrition leading to “child wasting”, disease and impact on mental health. Panelists reiterated the call for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire as well as a halt of weapons’ transfers to the occupying Power. Interventions criticized the UN’s perceived inaction and called on Arab countries “do more”.
• On 8 March, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued the statement “Fears Over Gaza Catastrophe as Brutal Conflict Enters Sixth Month”. The UN High Commissioner reiterated that there must be an immediate end to the conflict, and that the killing and destruction must stop. Since 7 October, parties to the conflict have paid little heed to international law, governing the conduct of hostilities. He reminded all States parties that under Article 1, common to the four Geneva Conventions, they have the obligation to respect and ensure respect for the rules laid down by those Conventions.