Two Palestinian human rights workers speak out against Israel's branding of their
workplace as a "terrorist" organisation. ---- In late October, Israel designatedsix leading Palestinian civil society and human rights organisations as"terrorist" organisations - including our workplace. We are two Palestinian womenwho work for Addameer, a non-governmental, civil institution that works tosupport Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli and Palestinian prisons.This latest escalation in Israel's use of its military and legislative powers tomaintain control over Palestinians suppresses any form of dissent and severs ourright to self-determination.Two weeks later, the Israeli military expanded the scope of the unfoundeddesignations through a military order, outlawing the work of our organisations inthe West Bank as well. This means dangerous consequences such as forcible closureof our offices, along with arbitrary arrests and reprisals against us, theemployees. Not only are we at heightened risk of repercussions because we arespeaking out, but in recent years we've seen several of our colleagues and boardmembers arrested and face travel bans.Since the ruling of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in February of thisyear, confirming that it has jurisdiction over crimes committed in occupiedPalestinian territory, we have been nervously awaiting Israel's response. Ourwork in Palestinian civil society is essential to building an ICC case againstIsraeli war crimes, but now that it is under threat, we worry that the Israeliregime will continue to take Orwellian measures to avoid accountability."Our work in Palestinian civil society is essential to building an ICC caseagainst Israeli war crimes, but now it is under threat"What we weren't prepared for, however, was the constant anxiety that comes withknowing we could be prevented from travelling, having our homes and officesraided by the Israeli military, having our residency statuses revoked, or beingarbitrarily arrested at any moment. Our sense of violation was made worse when,just two weeks after our organisations were outlawed, we discovered theIsraeli-based Pegasus spyware on the phones of several Palestinian human rightsdefenders, including a lawyer at Addameer. These are measures that have alreadybeen taken against our workers and board members in the past, but this latestnews signals that Israel intends to escalate the routine use of administrativedetention and arbitrary arrests.Administrative detention is a practice where Israel detains Palestinians withoutcharge or trial, often citing "secret evidence". This allows Israeli militaryauthorities to detain individuals without proving - or even alleging - any actualindividual culpability for activities or dissent against the Israeli occupation.This is part of the Israeli regime's aim to silence those who defend and expresstheir opposition to apartheid and illegal policies, and especially Palestinianhuman rights defenders.There is no justice for Palestinians in Israeli courts. They are an inseparablepart of the Israeli apartheid apparatus. Our organisation's lawyers and theprisoners we work with report a wide range of systematic abuses, includingtorture, ill-treatment, deliberate medical neglect, and inhumane detentionconditions. Palestinians are routinely deprived of the right to a fair trial andmany are held in administrative detention.Over the past few months, five Palestinian prisoners risked their lives on anopen hunger strike against their administrative detention. A crucial aspect ofour work at Addameer is to document, support and advocate for prisoners andamplify their demands outside of prison. Two of the five remain on hunger strike.The longest, Hisham Abu Hawash, is a father of five, has reached 102 days[as of26 Nov]and his health is in critical condition."A crucial aspect of our work at Addameer is to document, support and advocatefor prisoners and amplify their demands outside of prison"Hunger strikes have since the 1960s been used by Palestinian prisoners to fightfor basic rights, and in more recent decades, have been used to challenge thepractice of administrative detention. This long history of putting their bodieson the line reveals the lack of trust that Palestinians have in Israeli courts.But administrative detention is only one facet of how Israel uses its legal andjudicial powers to legitimise the repression of Palestinians - just as it isdoing now with the six targeted organisations. Since its establishment, theIsraeli occupation authorities have issued over 1,800 military orders based onpre-existing British Mandate-era Emergency Regulations. Just as Israelarbitrarily deemed our six human rights organisations as "terrorist" groups,these authoritarian orders have criminalised many forms of political and culturalexpression, association, movement, nonviolent protest, and any other acts thatmight be considered opposing the occupation and its policies.The threats of arbitrary arrest, unjust imprisonment and retaliation for being aPalestinian human rights defender has another dimension to it as women. Workingin Addameer, we have regularly monitored the gendered abuses that Palestinianwomen face in Israeli detention, and that we are now are at risk of ourselves."A loud noise outside our homes at night brings with it the sudden fear of amilitary raid and arrest"Our personal and professional lives have been fundamentally transformed. Ourfamilies worry about us, despite understanding the importance of our work. A loudnoise outside our homes at night brings with it the sudden fear of a militaryraid and arrest. For one of us, as a Jerusalem ID-holder, every day I passthrough the highly militarised checkpoints between work and home, holding mybreath that I will not be stopped. For the other, as a dual Palestinian-Canadiancitizen, I am afraid of the ways my ability to move and live between my two homeswill be impacted, especially when countries like Canada have not taken a standagainst Israel's designation.Our work has changed too, because the designation puts the political prisonersand their families who we serve at risk. Together with the other fiveorganisations, we defend children, support peasants and farmers, empower women,uplift the poor and marginalized, and document the stories of everyday peoplefacing violence. How can the public access services they need from us if theyworry that they may face ramifications for associating with outlawedorganisations? How can we guarantee privacy, when Israeli spyware is found on thephones of our colleagues, meaning that personal stories and legal cases ofprisoners we serve can be surveilled by hackers.Israel's totalitarian behaviour is only possible because of the silence of theinternational community. It is time for that to end.We ask that you reject the designation of the six organisations, and also rejectthe use of administrative detention, torture and the wide range of unjustpractices employed by the Israeli judicial system against Palestinians.Sign this petition organised by the six organisations. Have your civil societyorganisation issue a public statement of support. Take a stance on social media.Contact your elected representatives, and ask them to condemn and reject Israel'sattempt at silencing human rights defenders. You can find a toolkit full ofresources here. Together, we can work for a better future for Palestinians andfor all.https://wessexsolidarity.wordpress.com/2021/11/26/as-israel-designates-palestinian-human-rights-organisations-terrorist-where-is-the-international-community/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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