PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.136

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

7 – 13 August 2022

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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.

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

• Palestine’s permanent representative to the UN reports that the UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Monday, at the request of the State of Palestine, to discuss Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. (August 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE condemns the Jewish extermists’ storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards, including participation by extremist MK Itamar Ben Gvir, members and supporters of settlement associations, and the so-called “Temple Mount” organizations. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOHE) calls on the international community to intervene to protect students and educational institutions in the Gaza Strip. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The President of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) calls on international parliaments to pressure Israel to stop its crimes against the Palestinian people. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE condemns the demolition of two houses in the village of Rummana, west of Jenin, and the seizure of lands in the town of Sa`ir, north of Hebron, in order to build settlements. The MOFA further condemns the bulldozing of lands planted with olive trees east of Tarqumiya town and the demolition of 9 barracks in the Arab al-Kaabneh community, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• Palestine’s permanent representative to the UN during the Security Council session requested by Palestine stated that the Palestinian people and children need protection, such as AlaaQaddoum, the five-year-old girl who was martyred during the recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. (August 8, 2022).For further details, click here
• The Permanent Representative of Palestine to the UN sends three identical letters to UN officials about Israeli military aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip, noting the death of 46 Palestinians, including 15 children, and the injury of nearly 400 people as a result of the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFA condemns the statements of the Israeli PM and a number of Israeli leaders, “in which they affirmed their honor in killing defenseless Palestinian civilians and their readiness to continue committing these crimes in any circumstance and anywhere.” The MOFA considers these statements to be official confessions of committing crimes and calls for killing the Palestinians. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFA condemns the crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces in Nablus, “which led to the death of 3 martyrs and dozens of injuries,” holding the Israeli government fully responsible for this crime. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Ministry of Information confirms that the radio station Shabab FM was directly shot during the Israeli aggression on Nablus. They explain that these crimes of killing, injury, arrest, prosecution, and prevention of coverage and travel for the “guardians of the truth” prove once again the need to protect Palestinian journalists. The Ministry calls for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Ministry of Education condemns the Israeli Central Court’s decision to demolish the EinSamiya primary school in Ramallah, citing these attacks as a flagrant violation of students’ rights and the guarantee of their right to a safe and free education. (August 11, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the Israeli occupation’s approval of a new settlement on Palestinian land in the Salfit town of Derastia. (August 11, 2022). For further details, click here

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

• The Israeli Ministry of Defense dispatches three lawyers who represent the six human rights organizations that Israel has labeled “terrorist” organizations, implying that the very act of defending their clients’ rights and seeking due process infringes on Israel’s “counter-terrorism” statute.(August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Israeli District Court in Jerusalem issued a decision to demolish the EinSamiaschool, which was built on private land donated by a Palestinian citizen from the town of Kafr Malik. (August 11, 2022). For further details, click here
• Israeli forces dismantled the illegal outpost of Ramat Migron in the West Bank and evacuated settler activists who were living there. The Israeli Civil Administration stated that security forces removed illegally built structures erected at the site “in accordance with the authorities and procedures, as well as subject to operational considerations.”(August 11, 2022). For further details, click here
• Israeli military court extended the detention of Bassam Al-Saadi for another six days.(August 12, 2022). For further details, click here

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

• The Jordanian foreign minister (FM) stresses the need for action by the international community to immediately and effectively stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza and to provide protection for the Palestinian citizens living there. (August 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Jordanian Parliament and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza. (August 6, 2022)
• Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Yemen, South Africa, and the Sultanate of Oman condemned the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. (August 6/7, 2022)
• The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab Parliament, and the Arab League (LAS) condemned the settlers’ incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as the ongoing Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip. (August 7, 2022)
• Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan condemned the settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque. (August 7, 2022)
• The Spokesman for UN Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel and states that only a negotiated sustainable political solution will, once and for all, end these devastating cycles of violence and lead to a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike.(August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Bureau of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People issues a statement calling on Israel to lift the siege on Gaza and start negotiations that will lead to an end to the Israeli occupation and the implementation of the two-state solution. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Turkish President, during the 13th Turkish Ambassadors Conference, said, “There is no justification for killing children and infants. We stand by the Palestinian people and the brothers in Gaza. He added, We are using our relations with Israel, which is back on track, to defend the rights of our Palestinian brothers, as well as the interests of our country.” (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory stated that Palestinians’ right to resist is inherent to their right to exist as a people. An unlawful act of resistance does not make the resistance unlawful. An unlawful act of an unlawful occupation makes the occupation more unlawful. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The South African Minister of International Relations stated in the presence of the US Secretary of State that “Just as much as the people of Ukraine deserve their territory and freedom, the people of Palestine deserve their territory and freedom. … We’ve not seen an even-handed approach.” (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process before the Security Council reiterated his call to the Palestinian and Israeli governments, asking them to strengthen diplomatic efforts to return to meaningful negotiations toward a two-state solution. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• China urged advancing the two-state solution to settle the Palestinian issue. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the occupation forces’ crimes committed during their storming of Nablus, including the assassination of three Palestinians, the wounding of dozens, and the destruction of a number of houses and properties. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Saudi Cabinet emphasised the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian people and called on the international community to fulfil its obligations to put an end to Israeli occupation forces’ violations and aggressions. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the assassination of three Palestinian citizens as well as other crimes committed by occupation forces during their storming of Nablus. They urged the international community to put an end to these atrocities and hold those responsible accountable. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The UN expressed concern about the escalation of violence in the West Bank as well as the killings of four Palestinians “in clashes with Israeli security forces.” (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• On behalf of the Arab Group, Jordan’s permanent representative to the UN called on the Council to ensure a cease-fire and put an end to Israel’s violations in the occupied territories during the Security Council meeting to discuss the most recent developments in Gaza. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, Michelle Bachelet, expressed her shock at the high number of Palestinian deaths and injuries this year, remarking that “the killing and maiming of so many children this year is unreasonable.” She called for an investigation into all incidents in which anyone was injured, citing the persistent lack of accountability. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The US Ambassador to Israel stated that “We support Israel’s right to defend itself, its right to basically take the actions it needs to keep this place safe, so we’re fully supportive of Israel’s actions.” (August 11, 2022). For further details, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs

• In a letter to the Israeli Minister of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Adalah and other human rights NGOs called for an immediate stop to the attacks on the civilian population of Gaza. (August 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights denounced the denial of fuel entry into the Gaza power plant and warned against the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. (August 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Working Women Society for Development called for an end to the international and Arab cover of the Israeli multi-form aggression against the Palestinian people. (August 6, 2022).For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Center for Human Rights called on the international community to exert pressure on the occupying authorities to end its collective punishment policy and fulfill their obligation. They asked for states to help open the crossings to allow the entry of all basic needs, particularly medicines, medical supplies, and fuel necessary for the operation of Gaza’s sole Power Plant. (August 6, 2022).For further details, click here
• Skyline condemned the arrest of a Palestinian journalist in the West Bank and the Israeli army’s damage to press offices in Gaza. (August 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Educational Coalition condemned Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The BDS movement reiterated its condemnation of Palestinian official normalization, which takes numerous forms, the most severe of which being “security cooperation,” “liaison committee with Israeli society,” a refusal to address Israel’s theft, and worldwide selling of Palestinian gas and oil.(August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Islamic Broadcasting Union strongly condemned the entry of hundreds of extremist settlers and a Knesset member into Al-Aqsa mosque. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemned Israeli crimes against humanity and urges the international community to take decisive action to protect Palestinian civilians. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Independent Commission for Human Rights called for an end to the aggression in Gaza and for the occupation authorities to be held accountable for their crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law.(August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) called on all parties to refrain from targeting civilians and work toward an immediate ceasefire, following Israel’s assault on Gaza. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• Al-Haq sent an urgent appeal to the UN Special Procedures and demanded that all necessary measures be taken to stop the violence and ensure humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip. (August 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• J Street welcomed the declaration of a cease-fire between Gaza and Israel and called for a broad international movement to resolve the conflict that fulfills the legitimate national rights of both peoples and ensures lasting security. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• Al-Haq issued a report entitled “Israel’s Indiscriminate and Disproportionate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians Violates International Humanitarian law, Indicate War Crimes.” (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights called on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the international crimes committed by the Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip and hold all perpetrators of war crimes accountable. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• Action Aid International called on the European Union and Geneva Convention signatories to impose pressure on Israel to fulfill its obligations to protect civilians during the conflict in compliance with international law and take immediate action to end the siege of Gaza. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• Kuwaiti civil society organizations issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s aggression against Gaza. (August 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Arab Lawyers Union condemned the fact that 30 Palestinians were shot by Israeli forces while invading the city of Nablus. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the shooting at the Shabab FM radio station headquarters in Nablus by an occupation forces sniper and renewed its call for the United Nations to protect journalists. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemned the occupation forces’ continuous escalation and incursions deep into Palestinian sovereignty areas in the West Bank and called on the international community to take immediate action and stop utilizing double standards. (August 9, 2022). For further details, click here
• The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) strongly condemned the Israeli army’s recent military aggression and bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip and expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian people. (August 11, 2022). For further details, click here

Academic research and studies

• Al-Zaytouna Center for Studies, along with scientific institutions, issues a book titled “Studies on Normalization with the Zionist State.” (August 3, 2022). For further details, click here