Palestinian NGOs: Day of action set to fight Israel's 'terror' claims

A worldwide day of action to support six Palestinian NGOs recently declared "terror groups" - and effectively outlawed - by Israel will take place on Thursday

"Day of Action to Protect Palestinian Civil Society" will see a social media storm starting 8pm Palestine time (6pm in the UK) and supporters have been urged to hold demonstrations and panels to highlight the cause.

Defence for Children International - Palestine, detainees' rights group Addameer, the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, legal group Al-Haq, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and the Bisan Center for Research and Development were all designated as "terror organisations" by the Israeli military  Friday, accused of being affiliates of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Supporters say this is an attempt by Israel to criminalise Palestinian civil society.

"We stand with the 6 targeted Palestinian organizations and with wider civil society - we will not allow Israel's arbitrary designation intimidate us into silence #StandWithThe6," one example tweet provided by organisers read.

Supporters have been asked to use the hashtag #StandWithThe6 when tweeting.

Sahar Francis, Addameer's director said: "We've given legal [and] advocacy support to Palestinian political prisoners for 30 years.

"Now Israel suddenly claims it's 'terrorism.' Why now? They can no longer handle how we hold them accountable in front of the United Nations and the rest of the world."

Thursday is a global day of action for the protection of Palestinian civil society!
📢 Show your support on social media: explain why you #StandWithThe6 orgs - tweet or make a video!
📢 Use our toolkit: https://t.co/rsnZzQECs2
📢 Organize rallies, events, panels, conversations! pic.twitter.com/U22okIfVLy

— Addameer –الضمير (@Addameer) October 26, 2021

United Nations rights experts, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Palestinian rights groups Adalah, which operates in Israel, have all slammed the move to outlaw the six Palestinian NGOs.

Adalah called the decision an "unprecedented attack on human rights defenders who are exposing and resisting the Israeli occupation and its apartheid policies in the West Bank".