The State of Palestine condemned today Israel’s smear campaign and inflammatory incitement against civil society and human rights defenders working in the State of Palestine, including the European Union and its representatives, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
“At a time of unabated settlement expansion, systematic forcible displacement of civilians, concerted threats and measures of annexation, worsening humanitarian conditions that are further entrenching Israel’s illegal foreign occupation, Palestinian civil society and the human rights movement find themselves facing inordinate threats to their invaluable human rights and humanitarian obligations,” said the statement.
“The State of Palestine warns that continued Israeli incitement against Palestinian civil society and human rights defenders aims to silence human rights voices calling for accountability for Israeli violations of international law. The fabricated allegations and vilification also strives to diminish humanitarian work that mitigates the devastating impact of the Israeli occupation and upholds the principles of international law, including the universality of human, social, and economic rights, it added.
The Foreign Ministry said letters were sent yesterday to the Secretary General of European External Action Service, Helga Maria Schmid, highlighting the importance of maintaining support for Palestinian and international organizations working to promote human rights.
“The communication also reiterated Palestine’s unequivocal rejection of Israeli attempts to defund, bankrupt, and decimate Palestinian civil society,” it said, adding, “The State of Palestine appeals to the international community to strengthen its support and work to protect and empower the civil society as part of its continued efforts to advance the universality of human rights, international law, and the principle of international accountability.”
