NGO Action News – 25 January 2024

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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 23 January, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association published a report titled “Escalating Oppression: Israel’s Systematic Violations Intensify in Palestine Post-October 7, 2023.” The report provides—among other things—a comprehensive picture of the escalation of arrests and detentions since 7 October and the excessive use of force during arrest operations.
• On 21 January, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) published an article drawing attention to videos documenting the use of Palestinian residents as “human shields” by soldiers in Hebron. In response, ACRI sent legal correspondence to the Military General demanding that an investigation be opened into the incidents.
• On 21 January, Yesh Din published a data sheet with analysis of settler violence in the West Bank from 2005-2023, which points to “a system of ideological crime that is designed to dispossess Palestinians of their lands.” The analysis also argues that the Israeli law enforcement system fails in fulfilling its duty to protect Palestinians from Israeli violence.
• On 20 January, the Institute for Palestine Studies published an “explainer” containing background information and analysis on the case brought forth by South Africa vs. Israel at the International Court of Justice.
• On 19 January, BADIL– Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights issued a press release noting that the obligation to prevent genocide includes the provision of unrestricted humanitarian aid. Therefore, it added, in order to adhere to their obligations to prevent and not aid and abet genocide, states must ensure that Israel eliminate measures that delay or restrict the delivery of aid.
• On 18 January, Peace Now published an article documenting new settlement activity over the last year near the Migdalim settlement (south of Nablus), including the establishment of a new outpost on private property.
• On 14 January, the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) shared—through its legal unit—the November and December 2023 monthly reports of human rights violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers against the Palestinian citizens and property in the old town of Hebron. HRC noted a drastic increase in violations and assaults in the last few months.

Asia and Europe

• On 24 January, Amnesty International published a joint open call with 15 other humanitarian and human rights organizations, urging UN member states to halt the transfer of arms to Israel and Palestinian armed groups.
• On 23 January, Agence Média Palestine shared a global call (in French) for a ceasefire in Gaza, aimed at parliamentarians. The call, which was launched by a German MP and a US parliamentarian, has to date been signed by 524 parliamentarians from around the world.
• On 22 January, Law for Palestine held a panel discussion on the International Court of Justice hearings in the historic South Africa vs. Israel genocide case. The panel included legal experts John Quigley, Diana Buttu, and Ralph Wilde, who shed light on legal details of the genocide allegations and the impact of the case on the situation in Gaza.
• On 18 January, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network issued a statement welcoming and supporting South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The statement also called on the Australian Government to support the case at the ICJ and end its financial and military resourcing of Israel.

North America

• On 24 January, Jewish Voice for Peace published an article to mark the upcoming International Holocaust Remembrance Day, noting that it was important to remember the vow to never let a genocide to happen again, particularly as the Israel and the United States face trial for carrying out or complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.
• From 22 to 26 January, Churches for Middle East Peace is holding a “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.” Each day, religious leaders from the Middle East and the United States will lead a live time of prayer and reflection online at 12:30pm EST.
• On 22 January, the Alliance for Middle East Peace shared its new online series “Stories from the Field: Peace Activists During the Israel-Gaza War” which documents stories of resilience from Palestinian and Israeli peace activists. New stories will be added every week.
• On 22 January, J Street published an article titled “Time for Diplomacy” which argued that it was time for a negotiated stop to the fighting.

United Nations

• On 31 January, the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) will hold its first meeting of 2024. Secretary-General António Guterres will officiate the election of the Bureau, and the Committee’s programme of work for 2024 will be adopted. The Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN and the Director of the UNRWA Representative Office in New York will also provide briefings. The meeting will be broadcast live on UNWebTV.
• On 24 January, the International Court of Justice issued a press release announcing that it would deliver its order on the request for provisional measures submitted by South Africa in its case against Israel on 26 January. Public hearings were held on 11 and 12 January.
• On 24 January, UNRWA published a statement to mark the International Day of Education, highlighting the negative impact of the war on schools in Gaza, noting that most of them had been turned into shelters, while all UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip remain closed.
• On 23 January, the Security Council held an open debate at ministerial level on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Secretary-General António Guterres provided remarks and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) also delivered a statement.
• On 19 January, OHCHR issued a press release providing an update of the situation on the ground in Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire.
• On 19 January, UN Women published a report titled “Gender Alert: The gendered impact of the crisis in Gaza,” providing an overview of the situation in Gaza and UN Women’s response to the crisis.
• On 18 January, ESCWA and UNDP published a policy brief titled “Expected socioeconomic impacts of the Gaza war on neighbouring countries in the Arab region,” highlighting the interconnectedness of economies in the region and the impact of the Gaza war on them.