“It is an attempt to intimidate and silence by force the violations of the Jewish State,” they denounce from Gaza to the United Nations
The United Nations has asked the Security Council to condemn Israel’s decision to label six non-governmental organizations operating in the occupied territories as “terrorists”. In a letter, as an observer member of the international body, he describes the Israeli accusation as “false and defamatory”, which they consider “an attempt to intimidate and silence by force” some NGOs that expose the world the violations of the Jewish State.
Tel Aviv Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced on Friday that human rights organizations Al-Haq, Addameer, Defense for Children International-Palestine, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees and the Union of Agricultural Labor Committees are considered “terrorists” due to their links with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). This Marxist group is included in the list of terrorist organizations of Israel, the United States and the European Union. Those responsible for these organizations, who have been persecuted and punished for years, rejected the accusations, asked the international community for help and showed their intention to move forward.
Gantz did not provide evidence – it is classified material – but assured that these NGOs would divert “funds obtained from European states and international organizations” to finance “terrorist activities” of the PFLP. It is an accusation similar to the one that weighs on the Health Work Committees (HWC), the health organization to which the Spanish Juana Ruiz belongs, imprisoned since April.
Solidarity
Gantz’s announcement sparked a wave of international solidarity led by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW), who in a joint statement denounced that “for decades the Israeli authorities have systematically sought to muzzle human rights surveillance and punish those who criticize their rights. Repressive government over the Palestinians. On the other side of the wall, 22 Israeli human rights organizations showed their “solidarity with our brave Palestinian colleagues who were declared terrorists in a despicable act.”
The Israeli decision did not convince the United States either, and the State Department recalled that Washington believes that “respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and a strong civil society are of vital importance for responsible and responsive governance.” The Americans said no one previously informed them of this decision and Israel announced its intention to send officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Shin Bet to the White House to explain the case.
“We are facing another step in Israel’s strategy of trying to silence Palestinian civil society,” thinks Eneko Calle, a Spanish activist who has just coordinated a visit to the Basque Country by some of those responsible for these organizations labeled as terrorists by Israel. Calle anticipates that they must “be firm, defend their work and explain that cooperation is one of the sectors most monitored by public institutions, so the accusations of diversion of funds are unfounded.”
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