NGO Action News – 23 November 2023

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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.

You may find 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.

Middle East

• On 22 November, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media published an article sharing their findings after testing Meta’s content moderation policy’s ability to prohibit hate speech and incitement in paid advertisements. They found that Meta reaps financial benefits from the dissemination of harmful content within its platforms.
• On 21 November, Al-Haq published an article to commemorate World Children’s Day on 20 November, noting that some 5,350 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza in the last 45 days. The article also called upon the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to immediately issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials responsible for crimes against Palestinian children.
• On 21 November, BADIL – Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights issued a press release condemning the way “colonial states, such as the USA, EU, UK, Germany and others,” are proposing management plans for a post-ceasefire Gaza without consulting the Palestinian people or considering their rights or will.
• On 20 November, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association issued a press release marking World Children’s Day, highlighting the systematic arrest of dozens of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities. They note that approximately 200 children have been arrested since 7 October, with some of them subsequently released.
• On 19 November, Peace Now published an article reporting on attempts to seize one of the last undeveloped plots in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City for the establishment of a new settlement despite opposition from the Armenian community.
• On 16 November, the Association for the Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) published an article describing steps they had taken to obtain permission to hold a demonstration in Tel Aviv to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, the release of the hostages, and the promotion of peace.
• On 16 November, Gisha – Legal Centre for Freedom of Movement issued a press release calling for humanitarian access to Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Noting that the deliberate obstruction of life-saving humanitarian aid is a war crime, they called for unobstructed access to vital goods, including fuel, water, medical supplies and food to be facilitated immediately via both Israel and Egypt.

Asia and Europe

• On 21 November, Agence Média Palestine published an article (in French) noting that 46 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israel and its intensive bombardment of the Gaza Strip since 7 October.
• On 20 November, Amnesty International (AI) published an article highlighting its ongoing investigation into violations of the international laws of war in Gaza, and noting it had documented two illustrative cases in which Israeli strikes killed 46 civilians, including 20 children. Based on its in-depth investigation of these events, AI said it had determined that these strikes were indiscriminate attacks or direct attacks on civilians or civilian objects and must be investigated as war crimes.
• On 20 November, the Association France Palestine Solidarité issued a press release (in French) marking the anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, and calling for an end to the “slaughter of Palestinian children.”
• On 18 November, the Palestinian Return Center (PRC) issued a press release expressing concern over Israeli attacks on buildings sheltering displaced families, including hospitals and schools-turned-shelters. In the previous 72 hours, PRC said it had documented relentless Israeli bombardment on UN schools, shelters, and overcrowded buildings in Gaza.
• On 17 November, the Association Belgo-Palestinienne issued a statement (in French) welcoming the vote that day in the Brussels Parliament which approved a resolution to combat anti-Semitism that simultaneously allows for the freedom of expression of human rights defenders to engage in legitimate criticism of Israeli authorities, refusing to equate that criticism with antisemitism.

North America

• On 30 November, Americans for Peace Now will hold a webinar titled “UNRWA’s Gaza Challenge” which will feature a discussion with William Deere, the Director of UNRWA Representative Office in Washington D.C.
• On 22 November, J Street published a press release welcoming the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on the release of hostages and a temporary ceasefire. J Street also called on President Biden to stop providing “unbounded support” to Israel for a war with no limits nor exit strategy.
• On 22 November, Human Rights Watch published an article noting that while global attention is focused on Israel and Gaza, Israeli authorities are increasing their repression in the West Bank and attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers are surging.
• On 21 November, Jewish Voice for Peace published an article titled “8 Ways to Have Hard Conversations about a Ceasefire this Thanksgiving,” that provides advice on how to have meaningful conversations about the situation in the Middle East with friends and family over the holidays.
• On 18 November, Friends of Sabeel North America urged Christian individuals and organizations to sign and endorse a statement that calls on their constituencies to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the adequate provision of humanitarian aid, accountability for the perpetrators and enablers of war crimes, and an end to US military aid to Israel.

United Nations

• On 29 November, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) will hold a Special Meeting to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at UN Headquarters in New York. An exhibit titled “Palestine: A Land with a People,” will also be inaugurated in the Visitors’ Lobby of the General Assembly building and will run through 8 January 2024.
• On 22 November, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General issued a statement welcoming the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas to release hostages in Gaza.
• On 22 November, Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, issued a statement welcoming the announcement of a deal to secure the release of hostages abducted on 7 October and the announcement of a four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza.
• On 19 November, Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement expressing deep shock after two UNRWA schools were struck in less than 24 hours in Gaza, and reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
• On 17 November, the General Assembly held an informal plenary meeting where member states were briefed on the situation in Gaza by WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General, Natalie Boucly, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Martin Griffiths.
• On 16 November, the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People issued a statement welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution 2712 (2023) and calling for its implementation “in its entirety.”