PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.251

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

20 – 26 October 2024

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

 Translation: Ferdous Abdul Hamid and Asmaa Louzon

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 Foreign Affairs confirmed that the international community’s failure to stop the war of genocide and displacement against the Palestinian people is being exploited by the Israeli government to escalate acts of extermination, particularly in northern Gaza. The ministry added that the occupying army is forcing citizens in the north to either flee under bombardment or face death, creating a cycle of certain death. It also reiterated its call to the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its legal responsibilities and exercise its powers to protect the Palestinian people and stop all forms of genocide committed by the Israeli occupation forces. It urged all countries to respect and implement their decisions and directives in a way that reflects a two-state solution on the ground. (October 20-23, 2024)
• The Palestine National Council warned of the serious escalation resulting from the incursions of a number of extremist Jews and radical groups into Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. These groups reportedly blew shofars, raised provocative slogans, and performed Talmudic prayers within the Al-Aqsa Mosque The council deemed these violations as organized terrorism and called on the international community for urgent intervention to stop these assaults. (October 20, 2024)
• The State of Palestine strongly condemned the “dehumanizing” statements made by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock before the German Parliament, considering that they legitimise the documented crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, justifying genocide, and defending Israel’s colonialist aspirations. It called on world leaders and international organizations to act responsibly towards the crimes of the occupation. (October 21, 2024)
• The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mona al-Khalili, called on the UN Security Council to take practical and effective steps to protect Palestinian women from all forms of oppression, torture, and danger committed by Israel, including sexual violence. She also called for the release of Palestinian female prisoners. (October 24, 2024)
• The Palestine National Council issued an urgent appeal to the international community for immediate intervention to stop the brutal crimes, massacres, and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the fascist occupation army in the northern Gaza Strip with the aim of emptying the land of the Palestinian presence in order to re-colonize it. The Council condemned the brutal bombing by the Israeli warplanes on a school in Nuseirat camp and the Maghazi Sports Services Centre, stressing that this reflects the occupation’s insistence on targeting unarmed civilians and internationally protected places of

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

• Israeli media reported that the Israeli government is expected to approve a plan to manage the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza through a private company called GDC, which is a U.S. security firm. The plan aims to create what is called humanitarian bubbles in Gaza, where the Israeli army will, as they claim, clear areas of militants and set up buffer walls to prevent infiltration. GDC will be responsible for securing the aid convoys and preventing them from being controlled by Hamas or criminals. The plan has been presented to the White House and the U.S. State Department, and it is anticipated to be funded by the U.S. government and international donations. (October 19, 2024)
• Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that he has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist Israeli companies in taking diplomatic and legal actions against French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to prevent Israeli companies from showcasing their products at the “Euronaval” exhibition in Paris next month. He considered the boycott of Israeli companies for the second time and the imposition of unacceptable conditions as undemocratic and unacceptable steps, especially among friendly nations. He called on President Macron to completely overturn this decision. (October 20, 2024)
• At the Preparation for Settlements in Gaza conference, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the re-establishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip, describing the encouragement of voluntary migration for Gaza residents as the most ethical solution. Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that Gaza is part of the Land of Israel, asserting that there will be no security for Israel without settlements in Gaza. He emphasized that there will eventually be a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s Minister for Social Equality, May Golan, declared that Israel will hit Palestinians where it hurts, referring to their land, adding that those who planned the attack on Israel will receive a Nakba from Israel, and for the next 80 years, they will continue telling their children and grandchildren about what the Jews did to them in response. Opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed that the Gaza settlement conference endangers the Israeli army and foreign policy. (October 21-22, 2024)
• The Israeli military announced that it has classified six journalists from the Qatari network Al Jazeera in Gaza as belonging to “terrorist organizations” such as “Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.” It claimed to have obtained intelligence information and numerous documents from Gaza confirming their affiliation with these organizations. (October 23, 2024)

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

• As part of its commitment to address the humanitarian crisis of the Palestinian people, the European Commission announced its support to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) with €16 million. The Commission noted that the EU’s total contribution to the agency this year has reached €82 million. (October 18, 2024)
• The Australian Government announced a review of all 66 defense-related export permits for Israel that were approved prior to the Gaza conflict. This review is being done in a similar manner to the UK Government’s recent reassessment of arms licenses granted to Israel, with each permit being weighed up on a case-by-case basis to take into account international obligations related to human rights. (October 19, 2024)
• The Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministries condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ bombing of a residential area in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, which resulted in numerous casualties. They called on the international community to take strict measures to stop these war crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the massacre, viewing it an extension of the thousands of massacres, acts of genocide, and ethnic cleansing faced by the Palestinian people. Additionally, both the Qatari and Jordanian foreign ministries strongly condemned the incursions by extremist settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces. The Jordanian foreign ministry emphasized that Al-Aqsa is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, managed by the Jordanian Jerusalem Waqf. The Qatari foreign ministry warned of the repercussions of ongoing Israeli attempts to undermine the religious and historical status of Al-Aqsa, calling on the international community to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities toward Jerusalem and its holy sites. (October 20, 2024)
• The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, condemned the escalating situation in Gaza, stating that the “horrifying scenes are unfolding in the northern Strip amidst conflict, relentless Israel strikes and an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis.” He warned that there is no safe place in Gaza. Wennesland emphasized the need to end the war, release the hostages,cease the displacement of Palestinians, protect civilians, and ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. (October 20, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, described the situation in Gaza as a “collective shame of the century” that continues unabated and unstopped, in defiance of every norm of international law and morale. She stated that the Palestinians are “abandoned to their tormentors.” Albanese noted that “the United Nations, once a believed beacon of hope and a force for peace, are crumbling under the weight of this shame – and the pressure of the inaction or complicity of its most powerful member states.” (October 20, 2024)
• Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that the “horror Israel is bringing on the entire population of northern Gaza was inhuman. It is pure evil and a war crime that humanity should not tolerate.” He added that the “failure to stop this massacre is a shame on the whole international community.” He noted that “the Israeli government is continuing with its inhuman war crimes because the world is allowing it to. The impunity must end.” (October 20, 2024)
• Qatar condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by hundreds of Israeli settlers under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, describing it as “a flagrant violation of international law.” It warned of the repercussions of the repeated Israeli attempts to compromise the mosque’s religious and historical status quo, emphasizing the need for the international community to shoulder its moral and legal responsibility toward Jerusalem and its sanctities. (October 21, 2024)
• The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the “continued and widespread” loss of life across Gaza, stressing that “civilians must be respected and protected at all times.” He called for immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian and rescue teams, emphasizing the need for accountability for any international crimes that have been committed by any party. (October 21, 20204)
• The UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that Israeli authorities continue to deny humanitarian missions to reach northern Gaza. He emphasized that “denying and weaponizing humanitarian assistance to achieve military purposes is a sign of how low the moral compass is.” (October 21, 2024)
• Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin called for an end to the Israeli attacks in northern Gaza, describing the continuing offensive as “utterly unacceptable.” He urged Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law. The minister stressed the need to end the devastating violence, while also demanding an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a massive scale-up of humanitarian aid into Gaza. (October 21, 2024)
• The UN Office for Human Rights expressed its increasing concern over how the Israeli military is conducting hostilities in northern Gaza, alongside its unlawful interference with humanitarian aid and orders leading to forced displacement. The office reported that since October 6, the Israeli military has implemented measures that render life in northern Gaza unlivable for Palestinians, repeatedly ordering the displacement of the entire North Gaza Governorate. The UN office stated that Israeli authorities prevented the entry of all essential supplies into northern Gaza between October 1 and October 14, creating a looming threat of famine for many. Additionally, it reported that for the fourth consecutive day, their urgent request for access to the Al-Faluja area in Jabalia, northern Gaza, to assist those trapped under rubble, was denied by Israeli authorities. (October 21, 2024)
• In a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 65 House Democrats of the US House of Representatives called for a firm stance on Israel to ensure press freedom in They warned that the blockade on foreign press access, combined with the dangers facing local journalists, hinders accountability for military operations that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (October 21, 2024)
• The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) released a new assessment titled “Gaza War: Expected Socio-Economic Impacts on the State of Palestine October 2024.” The report estimates that the poverty rate in Palestine will rise to 74.3% this year, affecting 4.1 million people, and 2.61 million newly impoverished people, which endangers the future of upcoming Palestinian generations. (October 22, 2024)
• Attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice have sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, pressing him to “investigate potential violations ofS. law by Israel’s government, military, and citizenry, and hold the perpetrators to account.” The letter highlights categories of violations, including the killing of U.S. citizens by Israel, illegal settlement activity in the West Bank assisted by U.S. citizens, and evidence of Israeli forces committing war crimes, including the killing of civilians, torture, and forced displacement. (October 22, 2024)
• The UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini issued an urgent appeal regarding the situation in northern Gaza, where the area has been under continuous bombardment by Israeli forces for nearly three weeks, resulting in a significant rise in fatalities. UNRWA staff reported that they are unable to find food, water, or medical care, and the smell of death pervades the air as bodies are left on the streets or beneath the rubble. They have also been prevented from performing tasks such as removing bodies or providing humanitarian aid. Lazzarini called for an immediate ceasefire, even if only for a few hours, to allow for safe humanitarian passage for families wishing to leave the area for safer locations. (October 22, 2024)
• The Irish Foreign Minister announced that his government is considering amending the Occupied Territories Bill, particularly concerning dealings with illegal settlements in Palestinian territories, in light of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, which called on states to prevent commercial relations that support the Israeli occupation. While trade policies fall under the EU’s jurisdiction, Ireland is pushing for change at the EU level, including a review of relations with Israel. Should this prove unfeasible, the Irish government is prepared to take national measures while continuing to press the EU to implement the court’s advisory opinion. (October 22, 2024)
• The EU Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the situation in northern Gaza as “horrifying,” noting that “the human suffering from manmade famine and forced displacement cannot be justified.” He condemned the heavy shelling and destruction of UNRWA facilities, expressing his support for an urgent truce to permit humanitarian aid and safe passage for internally displaced people. He emphasized the need to grant access to international observers and media. (October 22, 2024)
• The Norwegian Government issued a recommendation for Norwegian companies not to engage in business cooperation or trade that serves to perpetuate Israel’s illegal presence in Palestine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide warned that “such trade and business cooperation may be associated with serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.” The government called on the Norwegian companies to operate in a responsible manner and to comply with the Norwegian Transparency Act and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. (October 23,2024)
• The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned calls by Israeli ministers and Knesset members to build settlements in the Gaza Strip, describing this as a blatant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and a breach of UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2334. The Ministry stated that these actions reflect an extreme Israeli expansionist policy aimed at forcibly creating new realities on the ground, while aggression against Gaza continues and food and medicine are blocked from entry. It emphasized the need for the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by compelling Israel to immediately cease its aggression and ensure necessary protection for the Palestinian people. (October 23, 2024)
• UNRWA and its partners have been compelled to postpone the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza due to the escalating violence, intense bombardments, and mass displacement orders. The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed the urgent need to stop the polio outbreak as soon as possible before more children are paralyzed and the poliovirus spreads further. WHO and UNICEF urge all parties to ensure that civilians, health workers, and civilian infrastructure, such as schools, shelters, and hospitals, are protected and renew their call for an immediate ceasefire. (October 23, 2024)
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that Palestinians in North Gaza are enduring severe suffering as the Israeli blockade continues, highlighting what it described as horrifying scores of people dead, injured, and destruction in the north. It reported that civilians are trapped under rubble and stated that international humanitarian law requires civilians to have access to essential necessities for survival, including food, shelter, medical care, and other vital aid. (October 23, 2024)
• The Intercept reported that a leaked analysis revealed that the chief legal officer of the European Union’s foreign service advised the department’s top official that a new opinion by judges in The Hague does not require EU states to ban goods imported from Israeli settlements, despite the court’s call to cease any support for the Israeli occupation. According to the analysis, imposing a ban on settlement products remains a political matter. (October 23, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, stated that the Israeli army’s announcement of the names of six journalists working for Al Jazeera in Gaza amounts to a “death sentence,” stressing that “they must be protected at all costs.” (October 24, 2024)
• Members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressing their “deep concern” about prospective efforts of the Palestinian Authority to downgrade Israel’s status in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and strip  Israel of its key privileges in the body. The letter warned that any downgrade in Israel’s status or standing at the UNGA will result in a corresponding downgrade of U.S. financial, material and political support to the United Nations. It also stressed that Members of  Congress were outraged by the recent vote in UNGA that supported the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion, which they viewed as undercutting Israel’s right to defend itself, thereby questioning the United States’ commitment to funding the United Nations. (October 24, 2024)
• The UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the postponement of the final phase of the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza due to escalating violence and restricted access. He called for adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the protection of civilians in northern Gaza and their access to humanitarian aid. Guterres noted that residents in northern Gaza are rapidly exhausting all means of survival under the ongoing Israeli blockade. He called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages, describing the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza as “the worst we have seen since this horrific nightmare began.” He stressed the urgent need for effective humanitarian aid delivery, ending the occupation, and making irreversible progress toward a two-state solution. (October 23-25, 2024)
• The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s attack on a school sheltering displaced people in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, describing it as “heinous” crime, adding to the war crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people and a “blatant violation” of international law and humanitarian principles. It called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities by compelling Israel to immediately stop its aggression, provide protection for the Palestinian people and hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable. The Ministry further condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ “savage” targeting of a residential area in the Jabalia camp, considering it a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, a continuation of the systematic brutal targeting of civilians, and a horrific war crime for which those responsible must be held accountable. (24-25 October 2024)
• The United Nation Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that the “darkest moment” of the Gaza conflict is unfolding in the north of the Strip, where the Israeli military is effectively subjecting an entire population to bombing, siege and risk of starvation. He emphasized that Israel’s policies could amount to crimes against humanity. The EU’s High Representative, Nabila Massrali joined Türk’s call for immediate action by world leaders to bring an end to the human tragedy in Gaza. She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to complying with international law and the resolutions of the ICJ and UN Security Council. (October 24-26, 2024)
• During his recent visit to the Middle East and his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the United States is working to end the war in Gaza by strengthening arrangements that ensure Hamas remains out of power and presenting plans for the reconstruction of Gaza. He also announced an additional $135 million in humanitarian aid for the Palestinians and emphasized the need to ensure that aid reaches those in need in Gaza. (October 25, 2024)
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, expressed her deep disappointment over what she described as the influence of baseless, repeated allegations on Western governments and diplomats against her, ahead of her upcoming report to the UN General Assembly next week. She emphasized that criticizing Israeli policies does not equate to antisemitism, especially given Israel’s “atrocities without respite.” Albanese called on governments to focus on ending the illegal and catastrophic situation in Palestine rather than on false accusations against her. (October 25, 2024)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• Oxfam strongly condemned the killing of four water engineers and workers from the Khuzaa municipality in Gaza, who were working with the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU). They were killed while on their way to repair water infrastructure in Khuzaa, despite prior coordination with Israeli authorities. Oxfam stated that this attack constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and demanded an independent investigation into the attacks and a halt to arms transfers to Israel, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable. (October 19, 2024)
• Ir Amim reported that the Jerusalem municipality handed over demolition orders last week for seven families in al-Bustan neighborhood, including an order to demolish the neighborhood’s community center, Al Bustan Association Silwan. The demolitions are expected to be enforced after the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which threatens family and community life in the al-Bustan neighborhood and East Jerusalem. (October 21, 2024)
• The Guardian reported that Israeli soldiers in Gaza used Palestinians as human shields, according to testimonies from Palestinian detainees and reports from human rights organizations. Detainees reported that they were forced into unexplored houses and tunnels before soldiers, putting them at risk, in violation of the Geneva Conventions. The report explained that these practices have been documented in media footage and testimonies from Israeli soldiers. (October 21, 2024)
• Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP) issued an urgent appeal to the Biden administration and Congress, pointing out that Israel’s acts violate international law and the U.S. Leahy laws. They demanded a suspension of U.S. military aid to Israel, an arms embargo, support for investigations into Israel’s violations of international law, and the assurance of free flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. (October 21, 2024)
• A group of activists in Germany, including MERA25 and Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East, have launched a petition calling for the immediate resignation of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who has defended Israel’s targeting of civilians in Gaza, with 10,368 signatures collected so far. The Palestine Academic Group (Pal-Ac) also condemned Baerbock’s stance, arguing that it ignores Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law, minimizes the importance of protecting civilians, and supports genocide. The group called on the German government to retract these statements and offer an official apology to the Palestinian civilians. (October 21, 2024)
• The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al Mezan Center have warned of the escalation of Israel’s policies targeting main hospitals in northern Gaza, which threatens an imminent collapse of these hospitals and their operation during one of the most difficult emergency periods amid the ongoing and intensifying Israeli military assault. This could lead to the deaths of dozens of patients, including children. Despite all efforts to partially rehabilitate some hospitals, the Israeli forces continue to target them repeatedly, leaving civilians with no hospitals for their treatment and thereby falling under the crime of genocide committed by Israel. (October 21, 2024)
• Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) released an episode of its podcast “Occupied Thoughts” titled “Holding Israeli Media Accountable: Incitement to Genocide is a Crime.” The episode covered a recent legal complaint filed by a group of Israeli lawyers, accusing Israel’s Channel 14 of incitement to genocide against Palestinians. (October 21, 2024)
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed the request from attorneys in the U.S. Department of Justice for Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the Israeli government’s killing of American citizens and other crimes. They called on the Department of Justice to respond to this request. (October 22, 2024)
• In an interview with Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Moti Kahana, CEO of the U.S. logistics company GDC, announced the company’s plans to serve as the main contractor for transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza. He emphasized that their mission is to secure this aid and ensure it reaches civilians without falling into the hands of Hamas or any criminal organizations, as he claimed. Kahana noted that the company is composed of former fighters with extensive experience in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. He outlined their goal of establishing protected humanitarian bubbles to provide food and basic care to the population. He confirmed that the company will coordinate with the Israeli army. (October 22, 2024)
• B’Tselem issued an urgent appeal to the international community to stop the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza, where the area has been under a near complete siege, relentlessly pummeled by the Israeli military. This has led to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people from hunger, disease and lack of medical care. The organization called for immediate international action to stop the mass killings and the suffering of civilians trapped amid grave violations of the laws of war. (October 22, 2024)
• Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Centre published a report titled “Responsibility Of Third States And International Organizations Emanating From The Findings Of The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion Of 19 July 2024.” The report addressed the important legal consequences of this opinion for third states and international organizations. (October 22, 2024)
• Al Jazeera condemned the claims made by Israeli occupation forces against its journalists working in Gaza, alleging that they belong to Hamas. The network stated that this is an attempt to silence the few remaining journalists in the strip and to obscure the truth about the atrocities being committed by Israel there. It warned that these allegations could serve as a pretext for targeting its journalists. (October 23-24, 2024)
• A joint statement from several humanitarian organizations called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to impunity amid a spiralling humanitarian catastrophe and escalating regional conflict. They urged for a halt to the transfer of weapons and ammunition to parties to the conflict that may be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and for enabling unhindered humanitarian access. (October 24, 2024)
• Several Palestinian human rights organizations expressed their support for the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, in the face of an intense campaign led by Israel with Western backing aimed at discrediting her and silencing her voice. The organizations deemed these attacks, supported by the United States, Canada, and European countries, as a blatant attempt to obscure their own complicity in the ongoing crimes against Palestinians. They argued that these campaigns targeted Albanese and all the efforts of the United Nations. (October 25, 2024)
• The Lemkin Institute reported that Israel attacked Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, resulting in the destruction of the intensive care unit, as well as water and oxygen supplies, leading to the deaths of several children and babies. It highlighted that 464 other healthcare facilities have been attacked since the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 727 healthcare workers. The institute called on Western countries to take action to hold Israel accountable. (October 25, 2024)
• The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement announced that Albania is complicit in genocide against the Palestinian people, stating that the ship MV Kathrin, carrying military supplies for Israel, docks and unloads cargo at the Albanian port of Durrës. (October 25, 2024)
• A group of organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and Oxfam, issued an open call to all UN member states for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel, an end to impunity, and the initiation of independent investigations into violations. (October 25, 2024)

Opinion Pieces and features 

• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by Yves Engler titled “The addition of Samidoun to Canada’s ‘terror’ list reflects a long history of anti-Palestinian racism in service of U.S. interests.” (October 20, 2024)
• Verfassungsblog published an article by Sergey Vasiliev titled “Tackling Israel’s Interference with the International Criminal Court.” (October 21, 2024)
• Institute for Palestinian Studies published an article titled: “We Treated Palestinians in Gaza: Banning Medical Missions from Entering is a Definitive Death Sentence” The article discusses the experiences of doctors Abeerah Muhammad and Abdullah Ghali in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. (October 21, 2024)
• DAWN published an article by Michael Lynk titled “Can Article 25 of the U.N. Charter Impose Accountability on Israel?” (October 21, 2024)
• CounterPunch published an article by Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt titled “How the Nobel Peace Prize Just Peacewashed the Genocide in Gaza.” (October 22, 2024)
• Mondoweiss published an opinion piece by the Feminist Solidarity Network for Palestine titled “How the UN Commission of Inquiry Report on October 7 launders Israeli propaganda.” (October 22, 2024)
• Declassified UK published an article by Mark Curtis titled “Gaza: Britain’s Seventh Genocide.” (October 23, 2024)
• Mondoweiss published an article by Roy Eidelson titled “The American Psychological Association is abandoning its commitment to human rights by refusing to speak out on Palestine.” (October 23, 2024)
• The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece titled “A Mess at the International Criminal Court.” (October 23, 2024)
• Opinio Juris published an article by Claudio Francavilla titled “International Court Rulings Require EU Action on Israel and Palestine: Sanctions, Trade Measures, Support for ICC Crucial to Comply with International Law.” (October 24, 2024)
• Middle East Eye published an article by Jonathan Cook titled “Israel kills the journalists. Western media kills the truth of genocide in Gaza.” (October 25, 2024)
• Le Monde published an article by Stéphanie Maupas titled “Silence from the ICC judges hearing the Netanyahu case.” (October 25, 2024)
• Commonspace published an opinion piece by Alexandra Dumitrescu titled “The European Union is neglecting its responsibility to uphold international law.” (October 25, 2024)
• Judicature International published an article by Mara R. Revkin titled “The Israel-Hamas Conflict: International Law, Accountability, and Challenges in Modern Warfare.” (October 25, 2024)

Legal Achievements/Impacts for Palestine

• The Norwegian Storebrand Asset Management has excluded the U.S. company Palantir Technologies Inc. from its investment because of concerns that the U.S. data firm’s work for Israel might put the asset manager at risk of violating international humanitarian law and human rights. Storebrand reported that it sold its stake, estimated at approximately $24 million in Palantir due to its sales of products and services to Israel for use in occupied Palestinian territories. (October 25, 2024)

Human rights conferences and events

• The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) held an online discussion panel titled “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. (October 21, 2024)
• More than 2000 Israeli citizens residing in Israel and abroad, including veteran activists against the occupation and for peace, called on the international community including the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union, to intervene immediately and implement every possible sanction towards achieving an immediate ceasefire for the future of both peoples in Israel and Palestine  and the peoples of the region. (October 24, 2024)

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events

• 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, in collaboration with UNHRSP, APC, and IFEX, announced an upcoming webinar titled “From Local to Global: The Genocide in Gaza and Its Impact on Freedom of Expression Worldwide,” scheduled for October 30, 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30 UTC. The webinar will discuss the key findings of the annual report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the report’s recommendations and the actions needed for implementation. For registration, click here. (October 23, 2024)