Palestinian civil society

Mohammed Mutafer, a nurse, is treated by medics after Israeli settlers shot and injured him and two other Palestinians during an attack on the town of Sa'ir, east of Hebron (Al-Khalil) in the southern West Bank, August 14, 2026. (Mosab Shawer/Activestills)

What’s behind Israel’s growing assault on West Bank healthcare

Seeking to push Palestinians off their land, Israel is targeting the infrastructure that sustains life — and the institutions long tied to the anti-colonial struggle.

By Ghada Majadli August 24, 2026

Heavily-armed police seen during the pro-Palestinian protests in Washington, July 24, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

‘The pump is primed to suppress Palestine advocacy. Trump just has to let it flow’

A new book lays out how Israel exported its crackdown on Palestinian activism and helped trample free speech in the U.S., explains co-editor Zaha Hassan.

By Jonathan Adler February 17, 2025

Zaid Abdulnasser, a Palestinian refugee from Syria living in Berlin, and activist with Samidoun, October 1, 2023. (Courtesy)

Germany to strip Palestinian refugee’s status over his activism

Echoing dubious Israeli claims against his advocacy group, Germany could force Zaid Abdulnasser into a legal limbo faced by thousands of Palestinians.

By Hebh Jamal October 2, 2023

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Israeli left-wing activists march during a protest against incitement against Breaking The Silence and other left-wing NGOs, Tel Aviv, December 19, 2015. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

With NGO assault, Israel drops its fig leaf

The Israeli right has co-opted Rabin's slogan 'without a High Court and B'Tselem' to undermine those institutions — but for a different purpose.

By Orly Noy May 30, 2023

Palestinians hold a vigil in memory of Shireen Abu Akleh in Gaza City, May 11, 2022. (Mohammed Zaanoun/Activestills)

What 2022 taught Palestinians

The past year proved that Israel's impunity on the international stage knows no bounds. But looking ahead to 2023, there are still reasons to be hopeful.

By George Zeidan January 1, 2023

Al-Haq's executive director Shawan Jabarin, next to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, speaks to the media after the Israeli army raided the offices of several Palestinian NGOs, Ramallah, the West Bank, August 18, 2022. (Oren Ziv)

‘You will pay the price’: Shin Bet threatens Palestinian NGO directors

Undeterred by foreign criticism, Israel warns heads of two human rights groups of imprisonment and prosecution days after raiding their offices.

By Oren Ziv August 22, 2022

The office of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees following an Israeli army raid, Ramallah, West Bank, August 18, 2022. (Oren Ziv)

Israel storms Palestinian NGO offices after months-long failure to discredit them

Seven NGOs denounce raids as message of impunity against Palestinians and foreign governments, after army seizes equipment and welds office doors shut.

By Oren Ziv August 18, 2022

Israeli soldiers confiscate computer equipment and client files in a raid on the offices of Defense for Children International - Palestine, Al-Bireh, West Bank, July 29, 2021. (DCI-P)

Israel raided our office and outlawed our NGO. But we’re still fighting

It has been a year since Israeli forces seized DCI-Palestine’s office equipment and criminalized our work. But our solidarity networks are only growing.

By Khaled Quzmar August 4, 2022

Attorney Michael Sfard. (Oren Ziv)

Israel sends veiled threat to attorneys of outlawed Palestinian NGOs

A letter from the Defense Ministry to the lawyers representing the six groups hints that their legal work may be viewed as violating anti-terror laws.

By Oren Ziv July 18, 2022

U.S. president Joe Biden during a welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv for his first official visit to Israel since becoming president, July 13, 2022. (Sraya Diamant/Flash90)

The trip Biden should have taken, but didn’t

What would the president's itinerary look like if he decided to meet with Palestinians, including U.S. citizens, targeted by Israel's policies?

By Rina Rosenberg (Jabareen) July 14, 2022

An Israeli soldier seen during an army raid on the Palestinian village of Burqa in the West Bank next to a spray-painted symbol of The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). (Oren Ziv)

Israel’s new secret document still fails to tie Palestinian NGOs to ‘terrorism’

+972 and Local Call have obtained a new report sent to foreign diplomats in a fresh attempt to justify outlawing six Palestinian civil society groups. The document, which is full of unsubstantiated claims, has left Europe's leaders unconvinced.

By Oren Ziv and Yuval Abraham January 13, 2022

Palestinian children light candles during a protest near destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, May 25, 2021. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

This was the deadliest year for Palestinian children since 2014

Instead of holding perpetrators accountable, Israel is criminalizing the work that organizations like mine are doing to protect Palestinian children's rights.

By Khaled Quzmar December 14, 2021

Juana Ruiz Rishmawi (center) being escorted by Israeli guards to the military court in Ofer Military Prison., Nov. 10, 2021.(Oren Ziv)

Israel boasts new ‘proof’ of NGO terror ties — by getting the facts wrong

Israel celebrated the conviction of Juana Ruiz Rishmawi as evidence linking Palestinian rights groups to 'terrorists.' That's not exactly what happened.

By Oren Ziv November 11, 2021