| UN.org Click here for the PDF version Puede encontrar aquí los números de “Noticias de Acción de las ONG” en español. Priere de trouver ci-joint les bulletins “NGO Action News” en français. للحصول على الترجمة العربية لأنباء عن أعمال المنظمات غير الحكومية، يرجى زيارة هنا Middle East On 25 October, the Institute for Palestine Studies published an article titled “Real Names of Stolen Villages, Illegal Settlements of the Gaza Perimeter,” noting the violent history of the farming communities surrounding Gaza. On 25 October, the BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights published an open letter to the UN General Assembly and its member states, calling on them to enforce an unconditional ceasefire, provide unrestricted and unconditional humanitarian aid, prevent additional displacement, and end the blockade on the Gaza Strip. On 24 October, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association shared a letter sent by the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), expressing alarm over the recent deaths of two Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, and calling on the ICRC to ensure the safety and well-being of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. On 24 October, Al-Shabaka launched a syllabus titled “Grounding the Current Moment – An Al-Shabaka Syllabus,” which contains publications, webinars and podcasts that provide context to better understand the current situation in Gaza. On 24 October, Adalah published a briefing paper on the crackdown on freedom of speech of Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as Jewish Israelis who voice dissent against Israel’s actions in Gaza. On 23 October, Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, sent a joint letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, calling for a ceasefire and urging him to condemn the ongoing war crimes and incitement to acts of genocide against the Palestinian people by Israeli authorities in the Gaza Strip. On 23 October, HaMoked – Centre for the Defence of the Individual, Gisha – Legal Centre for Freedom of Movement, Adalah, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, and other human rights organizations filed an urgent petition to Israel’s High Court requesting that it instruct Israeli authorities to disclose the names and locations of all Gaza residents being held in Israeli detention centres and release those unlawfully detained to the West Bank. On 23 October, Scientists for Palestine reported that internationally respected Palestinian astrophysicist Professor Imad Barghouti of Al-Quds University was arrested at his home by Israeli forces, and called on the scientific community to ask for his release as well as the release of all hostages, including over 200 Israelis held in captivity in Gaza. On 22 October, Physicians for Human Rights- Israel published a statement calling on the Ministry of Health and health institutions in Israel to adhere to the principles of medical ethics to provide equal treatment to every patient. This came after the Israeli Health Ministry and various hospitals said they would not provide medical care to detainees from Gaza. On 20 October, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies shared a joint statement signed by 48 human rights organizations from eight Arab countries calling on the UN Security Council and the League of Arab States to take action to prevent a genocide against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. On 19 October, B’Tselem published an article highlighting an increase in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of the war in Gaza. O n 19 October, genocide scholars and 100 Palestinian and international civil society organizations sent a joint letter to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, calling on the Court to issue arrest warrants, investigate Israeli crimes since 7 October, and intervene to deter incitement to commit genocide in Gaza. Asia and Europe On 25 October, Amnesty International published an article noting that the threats by the Israeli army ordering residents of northern Gaza to leave the area could amount to war crimes, since “declaring a whole city or region a military target flies in the face of international humanitarian law.” On 22 October, at the call (in French) of a broad coalition of civil society organizations, trade unions, and NGOs including the Association Belgo-Palestinienne, 40,000 people demonstrated in Brussels to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. On 21 October, the Association France Palestine Solidarité published (in French) a list of gatherings and demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine, many of which have been banned. On 20 October, the Norwegian Refugee Council published a statement of support for #CeasefireNow, an open call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and free civilian hostages. North America On 26 October, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will hold a virtual event titled “The Israel-Hamas Conflict: What Comes After?” with a panel of experts that will discuss the current situation and potential scenarios for resolution. On 25 October, the Board of Trustees of Friends of Sabeel North America issued a statement stressing that there is no military solution to the current conflict and highlighting that, as per the teachings of Jesus Christ, violence is never the answer. On 24 October, Human Rights Watch published an article highlighting the way in which Israel’s blockade of Gaza was affecting women and girls, specifically 50,000 who are pregnant and at risk of missing ante-natal care and giving birth without electricity or medical supplies. On 20 October, J Street welcomed a letter sent by 131 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to President Biden that noted that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians cannot be solved ultimately by any military means. The same day, J Street also issued a statement condemning increased violence against civilians in the West Bank. On 19 October, Jewish Voice for Peace published an article highlighting the Jewish protest and sit-in in solidarity with Palestinians that was held in Washington D.C. on 18 October, which gathered some 5,000 people and was the “largest ever Jewish protest in solidarity with Palestinians.” United Nations On 26 October, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini published an opinion piece in the media, warning that “history will judge us all if there is no ceasefire in Gaza.” On 25 October, Secretary-General António Guterres made remarks to the press, expressing shock and concern at the manner in which his remarks to the Security Council on 24 October had been misinterpreted. On 24 October, the Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East including the Palestine Question was held at a ministerial level. Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Lynn Hastings, and the Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Ambassador Chiekh Niang, delivered statements. A total of 87 member states and organizations made interventions at the debate. On 24 October, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca P. Albanese, and the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, Navi Pillay, presented their most recent reports to the General Assembly’s Third Committee. On 23 October, Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, called on lawyers advising the Israeli military to refuse legal authorization of actions that could amount to war crimes. On 21 October, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths made a statement welcoming the announcement that an aid convoy had entered Gaza. On 21 October, Secretary-General António Guterres delivered remarks at the Cairo Summit for Peace calling for release of hostages, sustained humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and dedicated efforts to prevent the spill-over of violence. UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland also delivered a statement thanking Egypt for facilitating the entry of aid into Gaza and reiterating the Secretary-General’s appeal for the release of hostages and a humanitarian ceasefire. On 21 October, OCHA published a map that displays the density of damage in Gaza based on a rapid analysis of satellite imagery as of 19 October. On 20 October, Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the press in front of the Rafah Border Crossing in Egypt, highlighting the importance of allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information “as is” without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter. Visit the Committee’s Website: http://www.un.org/unispal |
United Nations Committee on the Exercise of theInalienable Rights of the Palestinian People NGO ACTION NEWS – 26 October 2023
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