PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.263

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

12 – 18 Jan. 2025

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

 Translation: : Maisaa Abdelqader and Um Kulthoom Sharif

Editing: : Haneen Shadeed

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 and Expatriates (MOFA) has warned of the dangers of Israel’s “time-buying” strategy and its consequences for the continued ethnic cleansing and displacement of the Palestinian people. It cautioned that said strategy is aimed towards altering the political, legal, and historical realities in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, to serve Israel’s colonial and racist expansionist goals. The Ministry urged the international community to take bold legal and ethical action to compel Israel, as an occupying power, to immediately cease its genocidal actions. It demanded binding international arrangements to ensure the sovereignty of the Palestinian people and the protection of their rights through implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). (January 12, 2025)
• MOFA has warned of the dangers of Israeli incitement to transfer genocide and displacement from Gaza to the West Bank in preparation for its annexation. The Ministry referred in particular to statements of Israeli Minister of Construction and  Housing, Yitzhak Goldknopf, calling on Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to bring a million settlers to the West Bank and “use the momentum provided by the entry into office of the Trump administration to accelerate the construction of more real estate projects in the Jewish state’s biblical heartland.” It also raised the alarm on the Israeli Government’s efforts to separate Gaza from the West Bank, in order to undermine any plans to establish an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. (January 13-14, 2025)
• The Commission of Detainees Affairs Authority and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club have reported that the death of prisoner Moataz Abu Zneid resulted from systematic medical negligencein Israeli prisons. Abu Zneid contracted scabies, which exa due to the lack of necessary treatment. The Authority highlighted that such negligence is part of deliberate medical crimes committed against prisoners. (January 14, 2025)
• The Palestinian Presidency and the Palestinian National Council (PNC) condemned the killing of six Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp by the IOF. The presidency reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel’s complete withdrawal,  emphasising that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and must be handed over to the State of Palestine. (January 15-17, 2025)

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

• Israeli Minister of Construction and Housing Yitzhak Goldknopf, during a tour of the northern West Bank, has called on Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to bring a million Jews to settle the occupied West Bank. He also called on the Prime Minister to use the momentum provided by the entry into office of the Trump administration to accelerate the construction of more real estate projects in what he called the Jewish state’s biblical heartland. (January 12, 2025)
• Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has stressed that the hostage-ceasefire deal would be “a catastrophe for national security”. In his statement, Smotrich vows that “We will not be part of a surrender deal that would include releasing terrorists, stopping the war and dissolving the achievements that were bought with much blood, and abandoning many hostages.” He added that “This is the time to continue with all our might, to occupy and cleanse the entire Strip, to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas, and to open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders completely and all the hostages are returned.” (January 13, 2025)
• The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have seized seven and a half Dunums (1.8 Acres) of land from the village of Husan, west Bethlehem in the West Bank. In its annual report, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 49597 Dunums (11514 Acres) of land seized by the Israeli occupation under Israeli Military Orders in 2024. (January 13, 2025)
• National Security Minister of Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, has described the proposed deal for Gaza as “horrific” and claimed he is well-rounded on its details, including the release of hundreds of detainees whom he described as “terrorists who have murdered”, the return of Gazans including thousands of terrorists to the north of the Strip, as well as the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Netzarim corridor. He claims that the deal does not entail the release of all hostages, it would endanger the lives of excluded hostages from the deal and erase the war’s achievements. (January 14, 2025)
• Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich has stressed that the survival of him and his Religious Zionism party in the Israeli government is contingent upon a decisive commitment to resume warfare with great force. He called for a comprehensive approach under a new strategic vision aimed at achieving a secure and unequivocal victory. (January 15, 2025)
• Avichay Adraee, Lieutenant Colonel for the IOF, has issued a warning notice to residents of Jabalia Village in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate before the IOF launches its attack. Adraee highlights Jabalia on a map of the northern Strip and proclaims that “terrorist organizations are once more launching missiles from this area that has received several warnings in the past. For your safety, move immediately to the shelters in the center of Gaza City.” (January 15, 2025)
• Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has announced he will resign from office along with his faction -the Jewish Power party- if the cease-fire and hostage release deal is approved and implemented. Ben-Gvir assured that he would oppose the deal in any case and his return to government is conditional on the resumption of military operations in the Gaza Strip. Once the deal reaches all its stages, the Minister is expecting assurance that the IOF will return to Gaza to intensify their fighting and seize control over the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Strip. (January 15-16, 2025)
• Opposition Leader, Yair Lapid, has reiterated his offer to give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a political safety net to advance a hostage-ceasefire deal. While Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, threatens to leave office if the deal is followed through, Lapid remarked “I say to Benjamin Netanyahu, don’t be afraid or intimidated”, and “This is more important than any disagreement we’ve ever had.” (January 16, 2025)
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has announced an agreement for the release of the hostages, with the Cabinet convening to discuss and approve the proposed framework. The release is expected to take place on Sunday. (January 17, 2025)
• Israeli Member of Knesset Yair Golan has crticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for delaying the completion of the deal in May last year for what he described as unjustifiable political reasons. Golan deemed these actions unforgivable. (January 17, 2025)

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

• The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Muhannad Hadi, has called for an end to the war in Gaza. Hadi emphasised that “It is needless to say that churches, mosques, civilians and all civilian infrastructure must be protected. They can only be protected by the end of this war; by a ceasefire.” (January 12, 2025)
• The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Oslo will host the third meeting of the international coalition supporting the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. This effort builds on an initiative launched by Norway, the European Union, and Saudi Arabia during the high-level UN discussions in September 2024. The coalition aims to establish clear, practical steps to achieve the two-state solution. The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, highlighted the urgency of ending the conflict and providing a lasting solution, emphasising the need to strengthen the Palestinian government, and preparing for Gaza’s reconstruction under its leadership. The meeting is expected to further develop the framework for these efforts. (January 13, 2024)
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that Israeli authorities continue to deny UN efforts to deliver critical humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. OCHA has once again called on Israel to allow lifesaving assistance to reach the area safely, quickly, and extensively. The agency reported that only seven out of 22 planned humanitarian movements by the UN have been allowed. (January 13, 2024)
• Top independent human rights experts have urged the Palestinian authorities to end its widely criticised ban on the broadcaster Al Jazeera and ensure that all journalists, local or international, can work freely and safely in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The experts remarked the closure as “disproportionate [and] unnecessary”, severely restricts the freedom of expression of Palestinians and obstructs their right to information. They stated that “the decision to ban Al Jazeera on the basis of vague and unsubstantiated allegations suggests [the PA intends] to block international scrutiny and silence uncomfortable criticism.” (January 13, 2025)
• Cuba has officially filed a declaration of intervention in the case brought by South Africa against Israel concerning the “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).” The intervention had been filed under Article 63 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In accordance with the Court’s procedures, the ICJ has invited South Africa and Israel to submit written observations on Cuba’s intervention, in line with Article 83 of the Rules of the Court. (January 13, 2025)
• Following a meeting with representatives of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, has stated that the “imminent Israeli legislation means UNRWA faces a cliff edge in their ability to support Palestinian refugees across the West Bank and Gaza.”Lammy confirmed Britain’s firm support of the Agency, stressing that Israel must act to prevent the further collapse of humanitarian operations in Gaza. (January 13, 2025)
• In a 55-page response to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, has called on the judges to reject Israel’s objection to the Court’s jurisdiction, and the arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant concerning war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. He confirmed that Gaza -being part of Palestine, a member state of the Court- falls under the jurisdiction of the Court since the Rome Statute stipulates the prosecution of crimes committed on the territories of member states. (January 14, 2025)
• The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has presented a detailed post-conflict plan to follow the ceasefire and hostage deal, affirming that the Biden administration will hand it over to the Trump administration for implementation. Blinken proposed, with an invitation from the Palestinian Authority (PA),that international actors establish and run an interim administration in Gaza, which would be handed over to the PA “as soon as it’s feasible.” Blinken also suggested establishing an interim security mission comprising security forces from partner nations and selected Palestinian personnel, alongside an initiative to train and equip a PA-led security force for Gaza. The Secretary of State posited that the plan is contingent upon the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the PA leadership following comprehensive reforms. He urged all relevant parties, including Israel, to support this initiative to ensure stability, embrace the path toward an independent Palestinian state, while preventing Hamas from regaining power. Blinken called on Israel to abandon the notion of achieving de facto annexation of the West Bank without incurring costs or consequences for its democracy, international standing or security. (January 14, 2025)
•  During a joint press conference, Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, and his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Safadi has stressed the need for urgent humanitarian support in Gaza, while Rasmussen emphasised Denmark’s support for a two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Both Ministers expressed concern about the challenges facing Palestinian refugees and the importance of protecting UNRWA’s work in the region. (January 14, 2025)
• OCHA has reported ongoing attacks on shelters for displaced people in Gaza in the past five days, leading to significant casualties in Jabalia Al-Balad and Khan Younis. Spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, has stated that Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach people with vital assistance. (January 14, 2025)
• OCHA Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA oPt) has issued a new Humanitarian Situation Update, warning that Gaza’s fuel crisis continues to threaten the operation of critical health services, including ventilators in intensive care units and hemodialysis machines. Critical water, sanitation and hygiene facilities are also at risk of shutting down unless additional fuel is urgently delivered. (January 14, 2025)
• UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, during a meeting of the Global Alliance to implement a two-state solution, has stated that two laws banning UNRWA’s operations in the occupied Palestinian territories will come into effect soon, in contravention with international law and UN resolutions. Lazzarini doubled down that UNRWA staff will remain regardless and its local staff will continue to provide emergency assistance, education, and primary healthcare. (January 15, 2025)
• Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, has announced that Qatar, Egypt, and The United States have secured an agreement between the conflict parties in the Gaza Strip. This includes the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and sustainable calm leading to a permanent ceasefire. The agreement is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025. (January 15, 2025)
• UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA) has cautiously welcomed the ceasefire after 15 months of what many experts have identified as genocide. The Committee called on the international community, led by the United States, to provide the resources and services needed for Palestinian refugees. It urged the restoration of full US government funding to UNRWA and advocated for robust international support to rebuild Gaza, strengthen services for Palestine refugees, until there is a just and durable political solution to the seven decades-long plight of the Palestinians. (January 15, 2025)
• UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release, calling for the full implementation of commitments, and urging the establishment of a credible political path towards resolving the conflict. Guterres reiterated that a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace and security for both peoples. The President of the UN General Assembly, Philémon Yang, echoed this sentiment and urged concrete international action toward a two-state solution by international law; highlighting the importance of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine in June 2025. The Director-General of WHO also praised the agreement. (January 15, 2025)
• The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the parties to the conflict in Gaza, highlighting the devastating toll on children in the region. The organisation reported at least 14,500 children dead, thousands injured, approximately 17,000 unaccompanied or separated from their families, and one million displaced children. UNICEF emphasised that the scale of humanitarian need is enormous and the collapse of essential services in Gaza. With less than half of Gaza’s hospitals functioning, the risk of disease outbreaks has exacerbated endangering children’s lives. It also added that 95% of Gaza’s schools have been destroyed or damaged. (January 15, 2025)
• The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has stated that “Israelis must decide what relationship they want with Palestinians”, noting that it cannot be the illusion that Palestinians will accept being a non-people without national rights. Blinken proceeded to say that “seven million Israeli Jews and some five million Palestinians are rooted in the same land. Neither is going anywhere”. (January 15, 2025)
• The World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire, however, warned that funding worth $300 million is needed to address the urgent needs in Gaza over the next six months. WFP reported that the war had rendered more than two million people dependent on food assistance, homeless, and without income. It emphasised the importance of opening border crossings and guaranteeing free and safe movement for humanitarian teams across Gaza. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Emergency and Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has confirmed that humanitarian agencies are mobilising supplies to scale up aid distribution across Gaza in preparation for the ceasefire. Fletcher also called on the UN Security Council to leverage its collective power to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire, respect of international law and elimination of obstacles to saving lives. (January 15, 2025)
• King of Jordan, Abdullah bin Al-Hussien II, has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and urged the world to alleviate the tragedy by maximising the humanitarian response. He reiterated his commitment to support the Palestinian people and facilitate peace and the flow of aid. South Africa expressed its support for the agreement. France also welcomed the ceasefire, emphasizing the importance of its full implementation and sustainability. It called for the immediate commencement of reconstruction efforts, the opening of all access points to Gaza, and ensuring unhindered operations for international organizations and humanitarian agencies, in line with international law and the rulings of the International Court of Justice. France further stressed the need to seize this moment to initiate an irreversible process towards the effective realization of the two-state solution. (January 16, 2025)
• WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, Rik Peeperkorn, has raised the alarm that at least $10 billion will likely be needed to rebuild Gaza’s devastated health system over the next five to seven years. Peeperkorn added that his team’s initial estimate of the cost to rebuild just the health sector was “$3 billion over the next 1.5 years, and for the next six to seven years…something like $10billion”, stressing that “the destruction in Gaza is massive. I’ve never witnessed and never seen that anywhere else in life.” (January 16-17, 2025)
• The European Commission has announced a new humanitarian aid package for Gaza worth 120 million Euros. This includes food, shelter, protection assistance, water, sanitation and health care. The President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said “The ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope the region desperately needs. But the humanitarian situation remains grim in Gaza.” (January 16, 2025)
• Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, has defended his decision to file war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating Israel has made “no real effort” to investigate the allegations. Khan emphasised the ICC’s role as a court of last resort, suggesting that the case could return to Israeli courts if they demonstrate willingness to investigate. He criticised the US House of Representatives sanctions on the ICC calling them “unwanted and unwelcome,” and stressed that the Court is owned by its 125 member states, not by prosecutors or judges. (January 17, 2025)
• In a UN Security Council briefing, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has called for the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access. He urged the prevention of Knesset legislation aiming to end UNRWA’s operations in the oPt within two weeks, and appealed for increased urgent financial support to UNRWA to maintain its vital operations. (January 17, 2025)
• The UK Parliament’s International Development Committee has released a report on the situation in Gaza and the oPt, urging the UK government to outline steps for recognising the State of Palestine, including the conditions and timelines. The report also called for collaboration with allies to ensure Israel is held accountable for violations of international humanitarian law. (January 17, 2025)

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• In an analysis of CCTV footage, Sky News has revealed the shocking moment an 80-year-old Palestinian grandmother, Halima Abu Leil, was shot six times in an Israeli raid of her neighbourhood in Balata refugee camp in December in Nablus, West Bank. The footage  exposed Israeli special forces using a vehicle disguised as an ambulance to conduct the raid. Armed soldiers emerged from the vehicle and fired heavily into the area, striking Abu Leil several times- in her leg and the chest. She was left critically injured before succumbing to her wounds. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese,  asserted that “when I look at the footage…there were no precautions taken… to avoid or spare civilian life. No principle of proportionality… and ultimately no respect for the principle of distinction…So this was a murder in cold blood and could be a war crime as an extrajudicial killing.” (January 12, 2025)
• Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has strongly denounced a letter by the Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zohar, to the President of FIFA, Mr.  Gianni Infantino, calling for the expulsion of the PFA president General Jibril Rajoub, from FIFA. PFA made clear that the allegations in the letter are part of a long ongoing Israeli incitement campaign against the PFA president, which includes Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, calling for his imprisonment. (January 12, 2025)
• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights has issued a report titled “Reproductive Health Under Genocide: The Struggle of Palestinian Women in Gaza.” The report details the struggles Palestinian women in Gaza continue to face, exposing that pregnant and nursing mothers are deprived of critical antenatal, postnatal, and obstetric care, as well as essential nutritional support and hygiene products, putting their lives at grave risk. The report is a collection of firsthand accounts and expert observations, from victims, to eyewitnesses, doctors, and other healthcare practitioners directly experiencing or witnessing the violation of reproductive rights in Gaza. (January 12, 2025)
• 7amleh, The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media (7amleh), has expressed concerns over new content moderation policies introduced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The organisation warned that the changes could exacerbate discrimination against Palestinians; who remain the most targeted and censored category under Meta’s discriminatory policies. 7amleh urged Meta to ensure impartiality and prioritise the protection of Palestinians’ digital rights. (January 12, 2025)
• The European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) has demanded suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement until Israel complies with international law and human rights standards. ECCP urged all EU institutions and member states to assume their responsibilities and initiate the necessary steps to ensure the prompt implementation of the suspension. It also demanded an end to the genocide, cessation of the occupation and colonization of Palestinian territories, freedom for all detainees, and the protection of the Palestinian people. ECCP stressed that Israel’s actions would not have been possible without Western support, including that of the European Union. (January 13, 2025)
• The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has issued a statement calling for the halt of illegal maritime transfers that enable Israel’s genocide, illegal occupation, and apartheid. They emphasised the urgency of imposing a comprehensive military embargo on Israel to prevent further war crimes and genocide. (January 13, 2025)
• The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has called on Italian authorities to immediately arrest Major General Ghassan Alian, Head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, during his visit to Rome. The Foundation detailed Alian’s pivotal role in the supervision and enforcement of a total siege on Gaza from October 7 2023, including cutting off essential resources leading to mass starvation, civilian deaths and destruction of critical infrastructure. In addressing Italy’s role, Chairman of HRF, Dyab Abou Jahjah, remarked that “Alian’s presence in Rome is a test of Italy’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.” (January 13, 2025)
• In an interview with Al Jazeera, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé has described the current stage, which he referred to as “neo-Zionism,” as characterised by extremism and taking complete control over historic Palestine alongside the expansion of Israeli regional dominance. He highlighted that this phase is backed by a global alliance of populist leaders and multinational corporations but is countered by another global coalition that supports the struggle against injustice and colonialism. Pappé pointed out the role of education in Israel has played a significant role in turning Israeli youth into “racist fanatics, extreme and dangerous to themselves and to others.” He also urged for international intervention, particularly from nations in the Global South. (January 14, 2025)
• An analysis of a report by the Gaza Protection Cluster, highlighted by Save the Children, has revealed that the use of explosive weapons in Gaza in 2024 left an average of 475 children each month –or 15 children a day- facing potential lifelong disabilities. This includes severely injured limbs and hearing impairments. Save the Children emphasised that  Gaza’ decimated health system, destroyed health facilities, as well as the restricted flow and low availability of medicines has made treatment, therapeutic or rehabilitative care near impossible inside Gaza. (January 14, 2025)
• The Associated Press (AP) has revealed that some Israeli soldiers refuse to continue fighting in Gaza, citing serious violations committed during military operations. The soldiers described the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians. and revealed that they were ordered to burn or demolish homes that posed no threat. They also reported looting and vandalizing properties in the Strip. (January 14, 2025)
• 75 human rights organizations, faith-based groups, legal associations, and academic administration have sent an open letter to Congress and the incoming US presidential administration condemning sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli officials. Similarly, The American Branch of the International Law Association’s Committee on International Humanitarian Law (ABILA – IHL Committee) released a statement opposing these sanctions. (January 14, 2025).
• J Street has welcomed the ceasefire and hostage deal and  urges the incoming US administration and regional partners to collaborate on the rapid development of a longer-term plan that resolves the underlying conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. (January 15, 2025)
• Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights has expressed that the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza is a crucial step toward reducing the killing of Palestinians through deadly force. It added that a ceasefire alone will not end the ongoing genocide that Israel is perpetrating against the Palestinian people in Gaza. To end the genocide, it resolved that Gaza must be opened, and the international community ensures accountability for those responsible. (January 15, 2025)
• The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the largest coalition in Palestinian society leading the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, has welcomed the news of a ceasefire agreement with immense relief. However, it emphasised that the ceasefire is only the first and most critical step to end the genocide against the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The movment warned that without significant international pressure, the ceasefire could transition to a less visible form of genocide that Israel and the US hope will minimise regional and global outrage, as well as efforts for boycotts and sanctions. (January 15, 2025)
• The Norwegian Refugee Council has emphasised that the ceasefire must lead to a permanent truce, emphasizing that the unprecedented destruction calls for “massive and immediate international relief and rehabilitation.” The Council urged the U.S., Germany, and the UK to ensure that Israel keeps all crossings open, and called on the international community to address the root causes of this conflict and pursue a just solution in line with international law. Refugees International issued a statement expressing concerns about linking humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians -obligations under international law- to a prisoner exchange. Oxfam welcomed the ceasefire but has urged the international community, especially countries complicit in Israeli atrocities, to ensure there is no return to violence, and reiterated its call for justice and accountability. (January 15, 2025)
• Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action) has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, stating that “A return to the pre-2023 status quo of occupation and apartheid is NOT an option” and demanding the dismantling of the entrenched systems of oppression to guarantee Palestinians’ rights and their right to return. AJP Action has also urged for accountability of Israeli and American officials complicit in the atrocities in Gaza through international mechanisms. (January 15, 2025)
• Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, has welcomed the news of a ceasefire deal calling it a “glimmer of relief to Palestinians victims of Israel’s genocide,” but emphasised that “it is bitterly overdue.” She warned that “the nightmare will not be over even if the bombs cease,” highlighting the immense torture Palestinians have endured. Callamard added that many “have lost countless loved ones”, including entire families, and homes, and “an end to the fighting cannot repair their shattered lives or heal their trauma.” She urged the international community to ensure Israel immediately allows lifesaving supplies to urgently reach all parts of the occupied Gaza Strip and must also urgently grant access to independent human rights monitors into Gaza to uncover evidence and reveal the extent of violations. (January 15, 2025)
• Doctors against Genocide and Americans for Justice in Palestine have welcomed the ceasefire announcement, but emphasised that it is no substitute for justice. They stated that the genocide in Gaza has “shattered all bounds of humanity” and clarified that without accountability, dismantling the apartheid system, and the end of occupation, genocide remains unchecked and peace remains an illusion. (January 15, 2025)
• Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer) has shed light on the dire conditions faced by hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza, detained in Israeli prisons and camps, which fail to meet the minimum standards of humane living conditions. These facilities include Sde Teiman Ofer and the Negev Prison, where detainees endure severe mistreatment, systematic torture, medical neglect, the spread of diseases, and harsh living conditions. The organisation also highlighted the policy of enforced disappearances perpetrated by Israeli authorities noting that the true number of prisoner martyrs remains unknown. (January 15, 2025)
• Al-Haq organization has stressed that a ceasefire without accountability is meaningless, noting that Israel has a record of denying vital supplies to Palestinians in Gaza through a military siege of more than 17 years. (January 16, 2025)
• The Adalah Legal Center, in collaboration with the organisation “Gisha” has filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court against two newly enacted laws aimed at shutting down UNRWA operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. The petition calls for the annulment of these laws, which include terminating the 1967 cooperation agreement with UNRWA, prohibiting communication between Israeli authorities and UNRWA, and banning its activities in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. The petition argues that these laws would severely undermine the rights of Palestinian refugees and contravene Israel’s obligations -as an occupying power- under international law. (January 16, 2025)
• DAWN has urged the U.S Department of State and Treasury to sanction the Israeli registered entities Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael -Jewish National Fund (“KKL-JNF”)  and its subsiders. The call is based on KKL-JNF’s involvement in dispossession of Palestinians  and its role in facilitating illegal and racist  settlement expansion in the West bank, leading to displacement of the Palestinians. (January 17, 2025)
• Human Rights Watch has issued its 2024 global review, which includes key developments and statistics concerning Palestine and Israel. (January 17, 2025)

Opinion Pieces and features:

• Haaretz published an analysis article by Amir Tibon titled “Gaza Has Become Israel’s ‘Forever War’ and Only Trump Can End It.” (January 12, 2025)
• The New Arab published an op-ed  by Chris Gunness titled “UNRWA’s expulsion from Jerusalem will seal Israel’s illegal annexation.” (January 13, 2025)
• Al Jazeera published an op-ed by Ghada Ageel titled “Israel may burn Gaza schools, but Palestinians shall resist.” (January 13, 2025)
• The Electronic Intifada published an article by David Cronin titled “EU lends $847 million to Israel amid Gaza genocide.” (January 13, 2025)
• Haaretz published an article by Linda Dayan titled “‘Cutting the Head Off 200 Organizations’: Inside Israel’s War on NGOs That Aid Palestinians.” (January 13, 2025)
• Middle East Eye published an article by David Hearst titled “Gaza ceasefire: After 15 months of brutality, Israel has failed on every front.” (January 15, 2025)
• Opinion Juris published an article by Dion Kramer and Keri Van Douwen titled “After the International Court of Justice: Business as Usual? Al-Haq and Others versus the Netherlands: District Court The Hague 13 December 2024.” (January 15, 2025)
• ProPublica published an article by Brett Murphy titled “A Year of Empty Threats and a “Smokescreen” Policy: How the State Department Let Israel Get Away With Horrors in Gaza.” (January 15, 2025)
• Responsible Statecraft published an article by Trita Parsi titled “Biden worked ‘tirelessly around the clock’ – to prevent a ceasefire.” (January 16, 2025)
• CounterPunch published an article by Ramzy Baroud titled “The Gaza Genocide: The Fall of Israel’s Immunity.” (January 16, 2025)
• New Internationalist published an article by Nick Dearden titled “How the aid industry is sanitizing the Gaza genocide.” (January 16, 2025)
• Just Security published an article by Sarah Leah Whitson titled “Why Palestinian Families Are Suing the State Department for Failing to Enforce the Leahy Law.” (January 17, 2025)
• Mondoweiss published an op-ed by Jonathan Ofir titled “As the ceasefire approaches, Israeli ministers are already making plans to break it” (January 17, 2025)