Christian Aid has called on the UK Government to challenge Israel's act of declaring six Palestinian civil society groups as terrorist organisations. Head of Middle East Policy and Advocacy, William Bell, said:
"This act is nothing short of an attack on human rights.
"It follows years of restrictions on civil society and a relentless delegitimisation of those seeking to end human rights violations.
"Instead of demonising such organisations, Israel should welcome the democratic scrutiny and end its occupation and control of the Palestinian people.
"The UK Government must urgently work with international partners to challenge this act and protect human rights."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Today [22 October] the Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz declared six Palestinian civil society groups as terrorist organisations, accusing them of links to militant groups.
The six include some of the most well-established Palestinians human rights organisations working in the occupied Palestinian territory. They include Al-Haq, a human rights organisation that received the 2018 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic for its work.
Christain Aid recently launched a report that highlighted the deep inequalities which divide Palestinians and Israelis across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. It can be found here.
