{"id":313823,"date":"2025-12-19T09:59:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=313823"},"modified":"2025-12-19T10:01:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:01:49","slug":"ngo-action-news-18-december-2025","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-18-december-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"NGO Action News &#8211; 18 December 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>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 \u201cas is\u201d 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.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Please be informed that the NGO Action News will not be issued during the week of 22-26 December 2025. <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>As of 2026, the NGO Action News will be published as a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">biweekly<\/span> newsletter.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Middle East<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 16 December, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/cihrs.org\/1115-european-financial-institutions-involved-in-financing-104-companies-contributing-to-the-illegal-occupation-and-crime-of-genocide\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies<\/a><\/em> informed that the \u201cDon\u2019t Buy into Occupation\u201d (DBIO) Coalition has released its 2025 report outlining the extent of European financial institutions\u2019 investments in companies that support and encourage Israel\u2019s illegal settlement project in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The NGO added that, according to this report, 1,115 European financial institutions have financial ties with 104 companies whose activities contribute to maintaining Israel\u2019s illegal status quo in the OPT and\/or to the crime of genocide.<\/li>\n<li>On 10 December, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alhaq.org\/advocacy\/27172.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al-Haq<\/a><\/em>, Al-Mezan and Addameer made two joint submissions to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, in response to her call for input for her upcoming thematic report on torture to the Human Rights Council\u2019s 61<sup>st<\/sup> Session in March 2026. According to the NGOs, these submissions link the systematic use of both physical and psychological torture across the Occupied Palestinian Territory within Israel\u2019s broader apartheid policies and its long-term project of Palestinian erasure.<\/li>\n<li>On 10 December, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mezan.org\/public\/en\/post\/46814\/On-Human-Rights-Day,-Al-Mezan-Condemns-Israel%E2%80%99s-Ongoing-Genocide-and-Systematic-Violations-of-Palestinians%E2%80%99-Fundamental-Rights-and-Freedoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Mezan<\/a><\/em> published an article to mark International Human Rights Day, commemorating the anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The NGO stressed that Palestinians in Gaza continued to endure a genocide, and Palestinians across the OPT were systematically denied the most basic rights enshrined in the UDHR. They urged the international community to end the policy of impunity by holding accountable all those who ordered or carried out crimes against Palestinian civilians, to guarantee Palestinians\u2019 political rights, and implement relevant UN resolutions, foremost among them the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination.<\/li>\n<li>On 10 December, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/pchrgaza.org\/pchr-warns-of-worsening-conditions-for-displaced-persons-in-gaza-due-to-continued-israeli-restrictions-on-the-entry-of-adequate-shelter-supplies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palestinian Centre for Human Rights<\/a><\/em> published an article warning of the continued deterioration of the humanitarian conditions of displaced people in the Gaza Strip, particularly amid official forecasts indicating that Gaza will face heavy rainfall, floods, flash floods, and strong winds that are expected to destroy thousands of worn-out tents sheltering more than one million displaced persons. The NGO added that, despite the ceasefire declared on 10 October 2025, the Israeli Forces continued to impose strict restrictions on the entry of adequate shelter materials into the Gaza Strip. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mezan.org\/public\/en\/post\/46815\/Severe-Flooding-Deepens-Gaza%E2%80%99s-Humanitarian-Crisis-Amid-Siege-and-Infrastructure-Destruction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Mezan<\/a><\/em> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2025\/12\/utterly-preventable-gaza-flood-tragedy-must-mobilize-action-to-end-israels-genocide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a><\/em> published an article on this situation as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Africa, Asia and Europe<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 12 December, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france-palestine.org\/Impunite-d-Israel-impunite-des-colons-il-faut-que-cela-cesse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Association France Palestine Solidarit\u00e9<\/a><\/em> issued a press release (in French) calling for the end of the impunity of Israel settlers for crimes committed against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The NGO added that more than 130 outposts have been established in the West Bank on land owned by Palestinians since 7 October 2023, while 73 farming communities have been driven from their lands due to harassment by settlers, affecting 2,700 people.<\/li>\n<li>On 11 December, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2025\/12\/sustainable-peace-requires-international-justice-for-all-victims-of-all-crimes-in-israel-and-the-opt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a><\/em> stated that states must demonstrate their commitment to international justice to ensure genuine accountability for victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide for all those in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel. Making this statement following the recent conclusion of the International Criminal Court\u2019s (ICC) Assembly of States Parties in the Hague, the NGO argued that the conditions established during the current ceasefire further entrenched Israel\u2019s system of apartheid and its unlawful occupation and compound injustice.<\/li>\n<li>On 10 December the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/prc.org.uk\/en\/post\/5094\/prc-statement-on-israel-s-occupation-of-unrwa-offices-in-jerusalem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palestinian Return Center<\/a><\/em> issued a statement calling the recent Israeli forces\u2019 entry into the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) offices in East Jerusalem a serious escalation in the ongoing targeted campaign to undermine the Agency\u2019s mandate, obstruct its operations, and erode the protections afforded to UN institutions under international law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>North America<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 12 December, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fosna.org\/the-fosna-blog\/lulled-into-apathy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Friends of Sabeel North America<\/a><\/em> published an article warning against what it considers to be apathy created by the ceasefire in Gaza. Recalling the numerous incidents causing injuries and casualties, which happened since the ceasefire was agreed, the NGO stated that the international community should not permit the normalization and acceptance of this ongoing situation, and called for accountability for the crimes committed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>United Nations<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 16 December, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/secretary-generals-quarterly-report-on-the-implementation-of-unscr-2334\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process<\/a><\/em>, Ramiz Alakbarov, delivered a statement during the Security Council Briefing on the Secretary-General\u2019s quarterly report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016). Alakbarov welcomed the ongoing efforts by the mediators to avert further escalation and expressed support for implementation of current commitments as well as to advance discussions on the next phase and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza, in line with UN Security Council resolution 2803 (2025). He added that the UN was doing its part to support the ceasefire and meet the staggering needs of the population. Mr. Alakbarov stressed that the ceasefire must be consolidated to enable recovery and reconstruction in Gaza. He also condemned relentless Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which fuels tensions, impedes Palestinian land access, and threatens the viability of a contiguous and sovereign Palestinian State.<\/li>\n<li>On 16 December, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/monthly-bulletin-15dec25\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People<\/a><\/em> (CEIRPP) published the monthly bulletin \u201cAction by the United Nations and Intergovernmental Organizations relevant to the question of Palestine\u201d. The report highlighted, in particular, relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, as well as events and visits organized by the CEIRPP.<\/li>\n<li>On 11 December, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ochaopt.org\/content\/report-humanitarian-response-un-and-humanitarian-partners-during-first-month-october-2025-ceasefire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OCHA<\/a><\/em> published the report \u201cHumanitarian response by the UN and humanitarian partners during the first month of the October 2025 ceasefire\u201d. The report highlighted the implementation of the UN and its partners 60-Day Ceasefire Humanitarian Response Plan, launched after the announcement of a ceasefire on 10 October, which outlines priority activities and an operational framework for the rapid scale-up of humanitarian assistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; 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 \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-18-december-2025\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[6640],"document-source":[5539,5435,2541,6671,5463,1753,2173,6416,2169,3325,6047,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[5362],"entity":[2077,1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-313823","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-ngo-action-news","document-source-al-mezan-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-al-haq","document-source-amnesty-international","document-source-association-france-palestine-solidarite","document-source-cairo-institute-for-human-rights-studies-cihrs","document-source-ceirpp","document-source-division-for-palestinian-rights-dpr","document-source-friends-of-sabeel-north-america-fosna","document-source-office-for-the-coordination-of-humanitarian-affairs-ocha","document-source-palestinian-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-palestinian-return-centre-ltd","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-unsco","document-subject-ngo-civil-society","entity-non-governmental-organization","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/313823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/313823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313825,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/313823\/revisions\/313825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=313823"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=313823"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=313823"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=313823"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=313823"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=313823"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=313823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}