On October 22, Israeli war criminal and “Minister of Defense” Benny Gantz designated six Palestinian organizations as “terrorist.” All are known for their defense of Palestinian human rights: Al-Haq, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Defence for Children International Palestine, Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
This is the latest of repeated designations that began earlier in the year by Gantz and the Israeli regime to name Palestinian and international organizations working to defend Palestinian rights and organize for Palestinian liberation as “terrorists.”
On February 21, 2021, Gantz declared that he was adding the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network to Israel’s “terror list.” The designation was based on accusations that are both spurious and false.
At the time, 35 organizations and over a 100 individuals including artists, academics, lawyers and clergy signed a statement initiated by the Canada Palestine Association naming this criminalization of Palestinian advocacy as being unacceptable and unfounded. (See full list: http://cpavancouver.org/2021/04/tell-canadian-officials-advocacy-for-palestine-is-not-terrorism/). Close to 1,000 letters were sent to the Canadian government.
In late August 2021, without issuing a press release, Gantz further declared EuroPal Forum, the International Legal Coalition for Palestine and the Popular Conference of Palestinians Abroad as “terrorist”. Now with ten organizations, the Israeli regime has fully adopted as standard practice and policy the “terrorist” designation of organizations that effectively challenge its control and expose its crimes on the local, regional and international levels.
With the most recent addition of six organizations this deflection from the ICC investigation has become even more clear.
Read more HERE
40+ organizations, representing over 50 groups. along with more than 100 individuals, have endorsed a call to the Canadian government to hold Israel accountable,
Specifically saying:
This criminalization of Palestinian advocacy is unacceptable and unfounded; Palestinian-Canadians and their supporters have no intention of allowing biased officials to suppress their democratic rights and their voices. We will continue to work for justice and equality for Palestinians, be it through prisoner support or boycott campaigns; we will not allow our guaranteed rights to free expression and association to be threatened or curtailed.
Under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, all high signatories, of which Canada is one, are required to take actions to ensure that the Convention is upheld in all circumstance. We call on Canada to ensure violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention (war crimes) do not occur under any circumstance. We call on Canada to use all economic and diplomatic means available to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law (war crimes).
Initiated by Just Peace Advocates, Canada Palestine Association, Palestinians and Jewish Unity, and the Canadian BDS Coalition.
in addition, over 5K letters have also been sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and the Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino telling them that the criminalization of Palestinian advocacy is unacceptable and unfounded.
Organizations that have signed to date include:‘
Al Harah Theater
Africa4Palestine
Academics for Palestine-Concordia
ِAl Harah Theater
Al-Awda PRRC
Boycott from Within
Canada Palestine Association
Canadian Arab network.
Canadian BDS Coalition
Canadian Boat to Gaza
Canadian for Peace and Justice in Kashmir
Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
Canadian Peace Congress
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Carleton University Students for Justice in Palestine
Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land
Collectif Judéo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine
DCI-Canada
FOSNA ( Friends of Sabeel North America)
Greater Toronto for BDS (GT4BDS)
HR4A (Human Rights for All) Saskatoon
Independent Jewish Voices Canada
International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement
Jewish Network for Palestine
Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
Just Peace Advocates
Just Peace Committee-BC
Justice For All Canada
Kingston Peace Council
Kingston Peace Council
Knowledge Track Inc.
Labor for Palestine (U.S.)
Netherlands Palestine Committee (Nederlands Palestina Komitee)
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association
Palestine Solidarity Collective at York University
Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton
Palestinian and Jewish Unity
PCCC-Palestine House
People for Peace, London
Regina Peace Council
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Solidarite populaire Estrie
StandWithKashmir
Will update periodically, and add individuals separately. Over 100 so far.
Organizations and individuals can sign here to join.
Also, over 1,ooo have signed Canadian Parliamentary Petition highlighting the work of Al-Haq & DCIP regarding Palestine’s children.
