PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.255

Your weekly survey of the most important publications and activities related to Palestine and law, from local and international sources

 17 – 23 Nov. 2024

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

Prepared by: Razwan Issa, Nour Kharouf, Arwa Abdel Moniam, Kamal Abdulkarim

 Translation: Um Kulthoom Sharif and Mai Shaheen

Editing: Haneen Shaath

This weekly report reviews the legal dynamics of the Palestine question, and everything related to international law and Palestine. The report includes an account of the most important publications, activities and conferences related to Palestine at the local, regional, international levels. The report further covers decisions, decrees, and judicial orders affecting the Palestinian cause, whether made at the official, academic or public levels. The report aims to be a reference for monitoring, documenting and archiving the latest human rights developments related to Palestine, and to present them to individuals, researchers, study centers, and official, academic and legal institutions concerned.

To view this Issue of Palestine’s Legal Scene, please click here (5 minutes read)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Palestinian bodies:

• The Palestinian Ministry of Health has condemned the Israeli military raid on the ministry’s health clinic in the village of Kobar, located northwest of Ramallah. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs also condemned the statements made by Israeli Knesset member Avichai Povaron who demanded the nationalization of the Ibrahimi Mosque and its full placement under Israeli sovereignty. The Ministry called on UNESCO, which listed the Ibrahimi Mosque as a World Heritage Site, to take a firm stance to stop these plans. (November 17, 2024)
• The Palestine National Council called on the international community, the UN Security Council, and influential powers to intervene to stop the criminal madness, massacres, ethnic cleansing, and the ongoing siege that has lasted for over 47 days in the northern Gaza Strip. It condemned the massacre committed by the fascist occupation army in Beit Lahia market and Nuseirat camp using explosive bombs, describing it as a crime against humanity. The council accused the US administration of complicity and supporting the terrorist occupation in genocide and ethnic cleansing. It also condemned the crime of executing three young men in Qabatiya town in Jenin governorate as part of the occupation’s open war on Palestinian identity. (November 17-19, 2024)
• The official spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, held the US administration fully responsible for the continued Israeli violations, the latest of which was the Beit Lahia massacre. He stated that the ongoing military, financial, and political support from the United States is being translated by Israel into acts of genocide. He also expressed Palestine’s firm rejection of plans aimed at establishing a buffer zone in the northern Gaza Strip and Jabalia for distributing aid through a private American company with foreign funding, stressing that these plans contradict the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law. (November 17-20, 2024)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the Israeli government’s attempts to politicize humanitarian aid, noting that this deepens famine and extends the occupation’s war on the Palestinian state. (November 21, 2024)
• The State of Palestine welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants regarding the situation in Palestine, emphasizing that it represents an important step in restoring hope and trust in international law amidst the ongoing genocide and war crimes against the Palestinian people. Palestine called on all member states to commit to implementing the court’s decision. Palestine also welcomed the adoption of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) a resolution on the protection of journalists in Palestine. (November 21-22, 2024)
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that the Israeli decision to cancel administrative detention for settlers encourages extremist settlers to escalate their terrorism against Palestinians, their land, and their property. The ministry called for effective international action to stop settler terrorism and end the ongoing policy of impunity. (November 22, 2024)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Israeli bodies:

• During his visit to an Israeli military position in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would not rule in Gaza after the war, stressing the continuation of military operations to destroy Hamass military and ruling capabilities. He announced an increase in the offer for turning over Israeli hostages to $5 million for each captive. (November 19, 2024)
• The Israeli Supreme Court in occupied Jerusalem issued a ruling obligating the Palestinian Authority to pay compensation amounting to 46 million shekels ( 12.3 million USD) to three settlers, claiming they were harmed by an attack on the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem in 2001. Previously, 195 settler families filed similar lawsuits, demanding compensation totaling up to 1.4 billion USD. (November 19, 2024)
• Israel sent a letter to the Biden administration in which it promised not to forcibly displace Palestinians from northern Gaza or starve the civilian population. Israel claimed that it had increased the number of aid trucks entering Gaza and intends to raise the number to 250 per day, with plans to reach 350 trucks. It stated that it rejected allowing the Red Cross to visit detainees from Gaza but agreed to form an independent team to review prison conditions. The letter also included proposals to replace UNRWA with alternative entities for providing services. (November 21, 2024)
• In response to the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Prime Minister stated that “the anti-Semitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and will end the same way.” He claimed that the decision was made by a corrupt prosecutor attempting to clear himself of sexual harassment charges and biased judges driven by hatred and anti-Semitism. He emphasized that Israel does not and will not recognize the validity of this “biased” decision. For his part, Yoav Gallant described the decision as “outrageous” and” will live in infamy”. (November 21, 2024)
• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the ICC’s arrest warrants, stating, “we will not allow a hostile, hypocritical, and illegitimate body to harm our leaders or our soldiers.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the decision as “taken in bad faith,” adding that it “makes a mockery of the sacrifice of all those who fight for justice” and “turned universal justice into a universal laughing stock.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated the decision marks a “dark moment” for the ICC in The Hague, as “it lost all legitimacy for its existence and activity.” Meanwhile, the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the imposition of sovereignty over all territories of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), settlement expansion throughout the country, severing ties with the Palestinian Authority – which he described as terrorist – and imposing sanctions on it in response to the arrest warrants. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the decision as a distorted and disconnected step that reflects anti-Semitism. He called for severing ties with the court and taking decisive actions against the parties that led to these measures, foremost among them the Palestinian Authority and its leaders, until its collapse. (November 21, 2024)
• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an end to administrative detention orders for West Bank settlers, a controversial policy of holding suspects without charge for renewable periods of up to six months. He stated that “in a reality where the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria is subject to serious Palestinian terror threats and unjustified international sanctions are taken against the settlers, it is not appropriate for the State of Israel to take such a severe measure against the people of the settlements”. (November 22, 2024)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by Arab, European, and international bodies:

• The UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, stated that the Western leaders may deny genocide either out of ignorance or in order not to take legal action to stop it and punish the perpetrators. She pointed out that International Court of Justice (ICJ) recognised the plausibility of genocide occurring in Gaza, which obliges the states to comply with the Provisional Measures and conclusions by the ICJ. She further called for an arms embargo on Israel and an end to supporting the occupation as it commits plausibly genocidal acts. (November 17, 2024)
• The Jordanian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of the Abu Asi School, operated by UNRWA, in Al Shati refugee Camp, and a house in Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in killing more than 60 people and injuring dozens, most of them were women and children. The Ministry stressed that the attacks are a blatant violation of international law, specifically the 1949 Geneva Convention, and a systematic targeting of civilians and displacement centers. The Qatari and Saudi foreign ministries, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), also condemned the targeting of the school. (November 17, 2024)
• Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares condemned the escalation of bombings in Gaza, which have left dozens of victims. He stressed the need to stop the destruction and death in the Middle East, calling for a ceasefire and compliance with international law. (November 17, 2024)
• The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, condemned the Israeli strike targeting a multi-story residential building housing displaced Palestinian families in Beit Lahia, which killed dozens of people, many of which were children. He noted that “it is unacceptable that civilians continue to bear the brunt of this spiraling nightmare,” and reaffirmed that all parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect civilians. (November 17, 2024)
• Malaysia and Brazil stressed the urgent need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, calling on Israel to ensure unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the strip without any restrictions or conditions. This was stated during the G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit. They also reaffirmed their support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations. (November 17, 2024)
• Pope Francis called for a careful investigation into the commission of genocide in the Gaza Strip, pointing out that “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. He added that “it should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.” He further said “I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory.” (November 17, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, commented on a report by Sky News about the death of Palestinian doctor Adnan Al Bursh in Israeli prisons, most likely by rape to death. She criticized the racism in the Western media for not covering this case and the silence of Western politicians, which reflect a shocking disregard for thousands of testimonies and allegations of rape, mistreatment, and torture suffered by Palestinians in Israeli prisons. She added that multiple reports appeared this year have revealed shocking facts and abuses at the Sde Teiman detention center, where Palestinians kidnapped in Gaza are held without charge or trial and subjected to physical abuse and even rape. Despite this, she noted that Israel’s High Court ruled last September to keep Sde Teiman open, while instructing compliance with the Detainees’ Rights Law, which does not stand international law scrutiny. Albanese called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the European Union to inspect any Israeli facilities where Palestinians are detained amid reports of violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute, emphasizing that these violations should be considered as part of the totality of conduct revealing the intent of a state to commit genocide. (November 18, 2024)
• The UN Security Council held a meeting to discuss the escalating war in Gaza and Lebanon and its implications for the Middle East. The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, emphasized that the humanitarian situation is catastrophic, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. He noted the increasing violations of international law, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Regarding UNRWA, he warned that the institutional framework of support to the Palestinian people and a viable Palestinian state are on the brink of dissolution, threatening to plunge the Occupied Palestinian Territory into even greater chaos. Palestine called on the Security Council to adopt a ceasefire resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, while Israel called for condemnation of Hamas, accusing it of stealing aid. Several countries, including Algeria and Switzerland, expressed support for a two-state solution and the need to protect civilians, while Russia and China criticized the United States for using its veto to prevent the council from taking effective measures. (November 18, 2024)
• The Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmad Faisal Muhamad, stated that the report from the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices reveals the extent of the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza and the occupied territories. He noted that Israeli policies and practices are consistent with the characteristics of genocide. He called for the international community to take decisive actions to stop Israeli crimes, urging an immediate ceasefire and a halt to arms supplies to Israel. (November 18, 2024)
• The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Israeli settlement organization Amana and its subsidiary Binyanei Bar Amana Ltd. for their involvement in settlement construction in the West Bank. Amana is a key part of the Israeli extremist settlement movement and maintains ties to various persons previously sanctioned by the U.S. government and its partners for perpetrating violence in the West Bank. The Treasury Department explained that Amana plays a key role in developing settlements through supporting farming outposts with financing, loans, and building infrastructure, to expand settlements and seize land. (November 18, 2024)
• The German government and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) signed an agreement to provide EUR 6 million towards supporting the UN2720 Mechanism for Gaza, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023), which calls for the creation of an operational framework under the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza (SHRC) to support immediate humanitarian needs in Gaza. The allocated funds will be used to provide essential logistics support, facilitate operations through corridors in Jordan, Egypt, and Cyprus, and optimize aid flow infrastructure. (November 18, 2024)
• The Government of India released the second tranche of 2.5 million USD to UNRWA, fulfilling its annual contribution of 5 million USD for the year 2024-25. (November 18, 2024)
• The UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that the agency is currently facing its “darkest moment” due to the challenges facing Palestinian refugees. He highlighted the laws passed by the Israeli Knesset that ban UNRWA, which pose a serious threat to the agency. He emphasized the need to halt the implementation of these laws and define the agency’s role within a political framework that leads to a two-state solution and strengthens the Palestinian Authority. Lazzarini also referenced recent incidents involving UNRWA staff, including the arrest of one staff member by the Israeli army. (November 18, 2024)
• At the Rio de Janeiro Summit, the leaders of the G20 issued a joint statement, expressing deep concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and to reinforce the protection of civilians and demanded the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale. The leaders also reaffirmed the Palestinian right to self-determination and reiterated their unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution based on international law and relevant UN resolutions. They expressed support for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza. (November 19, 2024)
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that people in besieged areas of North Gaza governorate have been struggling to stay alive, with virtually no assistance for more than 40 days. OCHA reported that all attempts by the UN to support people in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and parts of Jabalya – all of which remain under siege – have been either denied or impeded. The Famine Review Committee affirmed that there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas within northern Gaza, stressing that immediate action is needed to address this catastrophic situation. (November 19, 2024)
• British MP Patricia Ferguson stated that targeting Palestinian children by Israeli drones resembles a “warped video game.” She called for a ceasefire and the evacuation of injured children to receive treatment in Britain and Europe. (November 19, 2024)
• S. Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he, along with other members of Congress, would introduce the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) to block the sale of certain offensive arms to Israel, stating that the United States is complicit in the violations by providing military support to Israel. Members of Congress issued a statement backing the resolution, stressing the need to restrain the Israeli government from annexing the West Bank or parts of Gaza. However, the US Senate later overwhelmingly rejected the resolution, and the Biden administration argued that these arms sales are a long-term investment in Israel’s security. (November 19-21, 2024)

• The Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema expressed regret for using the term “pogrom” to describe the attacks on Israeli football supporters in the Dutch capital following the match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. Halsema stated that she only intended to express sadness and not to make a direct comparison to historical events. She also condemned the Israeli government for its swift portrayal of the incident as an attack on Israelis, despite prior behavior by Maccabi supporters who chanted anti-Arab slogans and tore down Palestinian flags. (November 19, 2024)
• During a meeting with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi emphasized the need for an effective international effort to immediately halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza and to ensure the delivery of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid throughout the region. (November 19, 2024)
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that bakeries in Gaza, which are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of hungry or starving Palestinians in the Strip, are on the verge of closing due to a shortage of flour and fuel. Residents in the central and southern parts of Gaza are experiencing a sharp increase in the number of families facing severe hunger. (November 20, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, stated that Israel is responsible for the “colonial erasure” of Palestinians in Gaza. She called on Europe to halt trade relations with Israel and impose a two-way arms embargo on Israel. Albanese noted that the violence in Gaza is part of a historical context characterized by the structural and ongoing violence perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians, which has also affected Israelis. (November 20, 2024)
• The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, which had received the support of 14 council members. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood justified the veto by claiming that adopting the resolution would send the wrong message to Hamas and reinforce its strategy. He also stated that the United States had pressured Israel to facilitate the delivery of aid. Other member states of the council issued statements condemning the U.S. veto. The Secretary-General of the Arab League also condemned the veto, while the OIC denounced it, stating that the repeated use of the veto in cases of genocide underscores the urgent need for reform of the Security Council, which has become incapable of fulfilling its responsibilities and has lost its credibility in maintaining international peace and security. (November 20, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, expressed her deep regret after the United Kingdom explicitly prioritized the “risk to the UK/US relationship” over Palestinian lives, noting that this is “a troubling choice endorsed by many States in the West and the rest.” Albanese emphasized that accountability is essential against governments that have violated their international and domestic obligations, against organizations and individuals that profit from occupation and settlement activities, against nationals who serve in the Israeli army, and against nationals who are settlers, stating that colonies are a state-sponsored crime. (November 20, 2024)
• The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, warned against attempts to undermine the structures of the Palestinian state. He pointed out the international consensus on the two-state solution and urged the international community to take the initiative to put forward a roadmap for resolving the conflict. Wennesland also warned about the consequences of the lack of a solution to the conflict on Palestinian youth, who may resort to other means to express their frustration. (November 21, 2024)
• The UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that 80% of the Gaza Strip is now high risk areas where people are forced to flee in search of the basics, especially the nonexistent safety. He added that people in northern Gaza remain under a tight siege. (November 21, 2024)
• The ICC issued warrants of arrest for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed al-Masri (Al-Deif) on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The court said it had reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for committing the crime of using starvation as a method of warfare, as well as murder, persecution and other inhumane acts, and for intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population. (November 21, 2024)
• The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Muhannad Hadi, stated that humanitarian operations in Gaza are at risk of a complete halt due to insecurity. He emphasized that the delivery of essential aid, such as food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, is being paralyzed, threatening the lives of two million people. He explained that Israeli authorities have prohibited the import of commercial goods for over six weeks and called for an immediate cessation of the violence. (November 21, 2024)
• Australian authorities refused to grant a visa to former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who was scheduled to participate in a conference organized by the Australian Jewish Affairs Israeli Organization, because she might “incite discord.” The decision was based on a law that prohibits the entry of individuals believed to “vilify a segment of the Australian community, or incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of that community.” (November 21, 2024)
• South Africa, Ireland, Jordan, Namibia, Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq, China, and Malaysia and the OIC welcomed the ICC’s decision to issue warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed al-Deif. The Dutch Foreign Minister confirmed that the Netherlands would abide by the arrest warrants against Netanyahu, stating that no unnecessary communications would be made with him. The French Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed his country’s support for the court’s work, while the Swedish Foreign Minister noted that the arrest warrants are an independent decision by the court. Similarly, Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Foreign Minister, the Slovenian Prime Minister, and the Canadian Prime Minister expressed their support for the work of the ICC and their commitment to its decision. For his part, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, affirmed that the decision is binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU member states. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter stated that Europe must comply with the arrest warrants and called on the European Union to impose economic sanctions and suspend the association agreement with Israel. (November 21-22, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, stated, “The ICC’s historic arrest warrants against leaders of a ‘Western democracy’ – in the words of western media – is a TWAIL moment: impunity of the West for its grave crimes is ending.” (November 22, 2024)

• The United States, Hungary, Argentina, and Paraguay expressed their rejection of the ICC’s arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. The U.S. President described the decision as “outrageous.” The Hungarian Foreign Minister called it “shameful and absurd,” while Argentina deemed it a distortion of the spirit of international justice. Paraguay stated that it contradicts Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that “Upholding the international order based on international law and rules is important to us. At the same time, we are sceptical they’ll contribute to a lasting peace in the Middle East.” (November 21, 2024)
• The Prosecutor of the ICC Karim Khan issued a statement regarding the issuance of arrest warrants by Pre-Trial Chamber I in the context of the situation in the State of Palestine, based on evidence presented by his office. He called on State parties to cooperate and respect the court’s orders, noting that investigations into the situation in Palestine are still ongoing. (November 21, 2024)
• The U.S. House of Representatives passed Bill H.R. 9495, which grants the U.S. Treasury Secretary the authority to classify nonprofit organizations as supporters of terrorism and thereby revoke their tax-exempt status. Many experts view this law as a direct attack on the Palestine solidarity movement. Organizations and lawmakers have expressed concerns that the law could be used politically against organizations advocating for humanitarian causes and civil rights. (November 21, 2024)
• The European Commission warned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after he announced an invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, ignoring the arrest warrant issued by the ICC. Vera Jourová, Vice President of the Commission, stated that disregarding the warrant would constitute a violation of international obligations and damage Hungary’s reputation, emphasizing that all member states of the ICC are obliged to comply with its arrest orders. (November 22, 2024)
• UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that Palestinians in northern Gaza are struggling to survive after weeks under the Israeli blockade and over 40 days without rescue services. He explained that humanitarian aid continues to face significant restrictions, particularly in Rafah and northern Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for shelter. (November 22, 2024)
• Swiss MP Carlo Sommaruga emphasized the need to break the international silence on Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people, noting an upcoming parliamentary session to demand an end to the war on Palestinians. He affirmed the Swiss people’s support for their country’s recognition of the State of Palestine and the need to pressure the Swiss government to stop Israel’s crimes. (November 23, 2024)
• The spokesperson for the government of the Australian state of Victoria confirmed that the secret memorandum of understanding signed between the state government and the Israeli military on December 7, 2022, will expire next month and will not be renewed. (November 22, 2024)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations (PNGO) warned of the collapse of the humanitarian work system in the Gaza Strip as a result of the tightening of Israeli restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, while the population is suffering from repeated displacement and living in worn-out tents unfit to face the harsh weather conditions. It further called on the United Nations to declare the Gaza Strip a famine zone and assume its legal and moral responsibilities for the dire situation. (November 18, 2024)
• International organizations, including the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights, have called for the immediate implementation of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 and the UN General Assembly resolution on Palestine of 18 September 2024. These organizations called on the international community to take immediate measures to ensure that Israel is held accountable for its violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the implementation of targeted sanctions, suspension of Israel’s membership in the UN General Assembly, and end of all forms of support for the occupation. (November 2024)
• Al-Haq stated that it will continue its legal fight with its partners in the British High Court against the United Kingdom over its exports of parts for the F-35 fighter jets and other weapons used by Israel in gross violations of international humanitarian law during the genocide in Gaza. Al-Haq revealed that the UK government admitted in court that Israel is not committed to complying with international humanitarian law and exposed several failures in the government’s decision-making over arms exports to Israel. (November 18, 2024)
• The International Commission to Support Palestinians Rights (ICSPR) published a Fact Sheet titled “400 Days of Displacement – The Impact of Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions on Displaced Persons in the Gaza Strip,” prepared by researcher Lubna Deeb. The sheet called for urgent international and Arab intervention to end the aggression, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and provide international protection for Palestinians. (November 18, 2024)
• Peace Now published a statement titled “The Demolitions in Al-Bustan, Silwan: On the Path to Destroying an Entire Neighborhood?” The statement addressed Israeli settlement activities in occupied East Jerusalem, with a focus on the demolitions affecting the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan. (November 20, 2024)
• On the occasion of World Children’s Day, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a press statement highlighting the suffering of Gaza’s children during the ongoing war. Additionally, Addameer Association released a statement titled “Palestinian Children Between Arrest, Murder, and Systematic Destruction of Childhood.” Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights also published a report focusing on the catastrophic effects of Israeli starvation policies on children in Gaza. (November 20, 2024)
• The Israeli organization B’Tselem affirmed that the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas leaders represents a pivotal step in the struggle to achieve justice and freedom for all people between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. It emphasized the importance of personal accountability in reaching these goals. The organization called on all member states of the ICC to respect the court’s decision and work toward executing the arrest warrants. (November 21, 2024)
• The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement affirmed that the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli ministers is a critical step in holding Israeli leaders accountable and restoring the ICC’s damaged credibility. It emphasized that all states party to the Rome Statute, including complicit countries like Germany and the United Kingdom, are compelled to meet their duty and fully cooperate with the ICC and execute these warrants. The movement also called on states to take additional measures, including targeted sanctions against Israel and a comprehensive military embargo, to end its crimes and impunity. (November 21, 2024)
• Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, stated that the arrest warrants issued by the ICC represent a historic breakthrough for justice and must signal the beginning of the end of the persistent and pervasive impunity. Callamard urged ICC member states, as well as the United States and Israel’s allies, to demonstrate their respect for the court’s decision by arresting and handing over those wanted by the ICC. (November 21, 2024)
• The Center for Constitutional Rights issued a statement asserting that the ICC’s arrest warrants are not “outrageous,” as described by U.S. President Joe Biden, but rather long overdue and critical to ending the impunity that has fueled the genocide in Gaza and other crimes. The Center criticized Biden’s denunciation of the ICC and his opposition to accountability which Palestinian organizations and victims have long sought only deepens his own complicity in Israel’s crimes. (November 22, 2024)

Opinion Pieces and features:

• The New Arab published an article by Mjriam Abu Samra titled “Palestinian liberation does not need Western approval.” (November 15, 2024)
• Middle East Eye published an opinion piece by Ismail Patel titled “War on Gaza: Have UK protests made a difference?”. (November 16, 2024)
• Haaretz published an opinion piece by Gideon Levy titled “The New Zionist Ideal: A Generation of Israelis Devoid of Shame Over the Gaza War.” (November 17, 2024)
• The Times of Israel published a blog by Shaul Arieli titled “The unbearable price Israel would pay for annexation.” (November 17, 2024)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Vijay Kolinjivadi and Asmaa Ashraf titled “Palestine against an eco-apartheid world.” (November 17, 2024)
• The Irish Times published an opinion piece by Isabelle Defourny and Christopher Lockyear titled “Fears grow that Israel is going to wipe Palestinians from northern Gaza.” (November 18, 2024)
• Foreign Affairs published an article by Noura Erakat, John Spencer, and others titled “Can the War in Gaza Be Won?”. (November 18, 2024)
• Arab News published an article by Osama Al-Sharif titled “With Gaza war, Israel has normalized genocide.” (November 19, 2024)
• Counter Punch published an article by Yoav Litvin titled “Project Esther: A Trumpian Blueprint to Crush Anticolonial Resistance.” (November 19, 2024)
• The Intercept published an article by Jessica Washington titled “Senators Have a Chance to Halt Weapons Sales to Israel. Will They Take It?”. (November 20, 2024)
• Arab News published an article by Daoud Kuttab titled “Settler monster is stealing Jerusalem’s authentic tale.” (November 20, 2024)
• Middle East Eye published an article by Jurgen Mackert titled “This is not Holocaust guilt – it’s entrenched German racist superiority.” (November 20, 2024)
• Süddeutsche Zeitung published an article by Peter Münch titled “The Arrest Warrant Against Netanyahu Is Not Anti-Semitic, But Justified.” (November 21, 2024)
• Haaretz published an analytical article by Amir Tibon titled “The ICC Just Issued Netanyahu’s Arrest Warrant. He’s Counting on Trump to Save Him.” (November 21, 2024)
• Haaretz published an analytical article by Aeyal Gross titled “Is Netanyahu Now a Fugitive? ICC Arrest Warrants Over Gaza Are Turning point for Israel.” (November 21, 2024)
• Mondoweiss published an article by Craig Mokhiber titled “The ICC Has Finally Issued Arrest Warrants for Israeli Leaders. The Fight Is Far from Over.” (November 21, 2024)
• The Guardian published an article by Jonathan Liew titled “Sport may be a blunt tool of social change, but it’s time to take a stand against Israel.” (November 21, 2024)
• Al Jazeera published an article by Belén Fernández titled “IICC arrest warrants: Netanyahu is certainly a criminal, but …” (November 21, 2024)
• Just Security published an article by Tom Dannenbaum titled “Nuts & Bolts of the International Criminal Court Arrest Warrants in the ‘Situation in Palestine’.” (November 22, 2024)
• Just Security published an analysis by Rebecca Ingber examining international reactions to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and Gallant. (November 22, 2024)

Human rights conferences and events:

• Solidarwerkstatt Austria launched a petition titled “No Arms Deals and No Military Cooperation with Israel,” calling on the Austrian government to end military cooperation with the Israeli forces and halt all arms deals with Israel and its military companies. The petition criticized the strategic partnership between Austria and Israel, which includes military cooperation and arms deals. (November 2024)
• Palestinian organizations, including Al-Haq, Al-Mezan, and the PCHR, along with Dutch organizations including SOMO and EAJG, filed a lawsuit against the Dutch government, accusing it of failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and violating international humanitarian law. The lawsuit demanded a ban on the export of weapons, weapon parts, and dual-use items to Israel, as well as a ban on all Dutch trade and investment relations with illegal Israeli settlements. (November 2024)
• A group of prominent figures, including former diplomats, academics, historians, and numerous human rights organizations, sent an open letter to EU leadership, urging the European Union to uphold international law and prevent Israel from committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The letter called for a full arms embargo and the suspension of economic relations with illegal Israeli settlements. (November 2024)
• Organizations including Just Vision, the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), Jewish Currents, the Center for International Policy, and the Center for Constitutional Rights organized a Zoom event titled “Israel-Palestine Policy in 2025: A Conversation with Organizers and Analysts.” The event focused on evolving strategies, challenges, and priorities in the context of potential policy shifts under a Trump administration. (November 21, 2024)
• The Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, in collaboration with its international counterparts, is launching an urgent campaign demanding that world governments hold Israel accountable to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, urging the protection of Lebanese and Palestinian children. (November 2024)
• The newspaper Mediapart published a collective petition signed by dozens of French-speaking professionals in the fields of mental health, care, and psychosocial support. In the petition, they called on professional organizations and relevant authorities to take action against the genocide and crimes against humanity being perpetrated against the Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. They highlighted the impacts of this catastrophe on both current and future generations. (November 21, 2024)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events:

• Rabbis for Human Rights and Achvat Amim announced the launch of the 19-day “Winter Solidarity Visit” program in the West Bank, from December 19, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The program aims to strengthen solidarity with Palestinian communities experiencing displacement due to settler violence, through community work, educational workshops, and solidarity actions. It will provide participants with an opportunity to learn and work with Palestinians in areas of human rights, social justice, and nonviolent resistance. The program is open to students, teachers, activists, and anyone committed to justice and equality. (November 18, 2024)