NGO Action News – 24 October 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.

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.

Middle East

• On 30 October, 7amleh, and other organisations, will hold a webinar to discuss the main findings of the annual report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression. The NGO informed that, according to the report, the war in Gaza has unleashed a global crisis of freedom of expression.
• On 22 October, B’Tselem issued a press release warning that the world must stop the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza. The NGO stated that ever since Israel’s current operation in the northern Gaza Strip began in October, the area has been under a near complete siege, relentlessly pummelled by the military. The press release further calls on all international bodies and institutions to act now to compel Israel to stop the war.
• On 21 October, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights warned that hospitals in North Gaza are on the brink of a total collapse and might go out of service. The NGO warned that Israeli Defense Forces were conducting deliberate attacks on Gaza Strip’s hospitals, inflicting fatalities among patients, medical personnel and displaced persons in addition to imposing a siege and forcibly evacuating civilians. Al Mezan published an article on this issue as well.
• On 21 October, the Institute for Palestine Studies published an article written by two United Sates-based physicians who shared the experience of their latest humanitarian assistance visit to Gaza. In particular, the medical staff highlighted the crucial role played by international NGOs in supporting the crumbling health care sector in Gaza and alleviating the suffering of a civilian population largely made up of children. Additionally, with the absence of international journalists and the continued targeting of Palestinian journalists and their families in Gaza, health care workers serve as independent observers of the numerous violations of international law committed by Israel.
• On 15 October, Gisha published an update on the petition submitted together with Adalah, HaMoked, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, calling on Israel’s High Court to order Israel to enable humanitarian access to Gaza; significantly increase the volume of aid to Gaza, and to provide for the needs of the civilian population in keeping with Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.

Africa, Asia and Europe

• On 25 October, Law for Palestine, in collaboration with the Gallatin Human Rights Initiative, will organise the hybrid event “Palestine, Israel, and International Law: The Long View Since October 2023”. This event will be hosted at New York University and available online. Scholars and legal experts will present their research on key legal aspects surrounding Israel/Palestine and the recent events.
• On 22 October, Diakonia published a note focusing on the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, issued on 19 July 2024. This publication analyses the far-reaching legal consequences for third States and international organisations emanating from the Court’s findings in the Advisory Opinion and makes proposal for policy recommendations.
• On 21 October, the Palestinian Return Centre held an online panel discussion “The West Bank: Accelerating Annexation and Ethnic Cleansing.” The panel featured Palestinian activists, scholars, and former diplomats, who provided in-depth analyses of the intensifying Israeli settler violence, land annexation, and the worsening plight of Palestinian political prisoners.

North America

• On 21 October, Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) published the webinar “Holding Israeli Media Accountable: Incitement to Genocide is a Crime”. Sarah Anne Minkin, FMEP Director of Programs & Partnerships, spoke with Israeli human rights attorney Alon Sapir about the legal complaint he recently filed, together with other Israeli attorneys, accusing an Israeli television channel of incitement to genocide against Palestinians and other grave crimes.
• On 18 October, Human Rights Watch published the article “North Gaza: Between Death and Displacement”. Recalling that forced displacement and using starvation as a weapon of war can amount to a war crime, the NGO informed that, since 1 October, the Israeli military had ordered some 400,000 Palestinians in northern Gaza to leave their homes and blocked aid from reaching them. The article further reads that there is mounting evidence that the Israeli military is unlawfully seeking to force civilians out of northern Gaza, with no safe place to go, no safe way to get there, and no apparent plans to let them return. Jewish Voice for Peace published an article on this situation as well.

United Nations

• On 31 October, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will organize the briefing “International legal responsibilities for preventing genocide, holding perpetrators of war crimes accountable, and for ending the unlawful occupation of Palestine”. The briefing will feature presentations by the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967, Francesca Albanese; and on the Right to Health, Tlaleng Mofokeng; as well as a Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, Chris Sidoti. These briefings will address their recent reports to the UN General Assembly and recent developments, including the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in July. The Committee will also hear from representatives of the Independent Commission for Human Rights of Palestine and the NGO “Law for Palestine”. The event will take place at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at UN Headquarters (ECOSOC Chamber) in New York, and be broadcast via UN Web TV.
• On 21 October, UNRWA published a statement from the Agency’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, accusing the Israeli authorities of continuing to deny humanitarian missions access to the north of Gaza with critical supplies including medicine and food for people under siege. Hospitals have been hit and are left without power while injured people are left without care. Philippe Lazzarini added that according to reports, people attempting to flee are getting killed, their bodies left in the street. Missions to rescue people from under the rubble are also being denied.
• On 20 October, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, issued a statement condemning the continuing attacks on civilians in Gaza, as horrifying scenes are unfolding in the northern Strip amidst conflict, relentless Israeli strikes and an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis. He added that this war must end, the hostages held by Hamas must be freed, the displacement of Palestinians must cease, and civilians must be protected wherever they are. Humanitarian aid must be delivered unimpeded.