UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor calls Israeli attacks on Palestinian human rights organizations an “atrocity.” “It’s as simple as that,” Lawlor tells Mondoweiss, “Israel does not want human rights defenders documenting and publicizing the attacks and injustice done to the Palestinians. So, this is their tactic.”

An Israeli district court sentenced World Vision’s Mohammed El Halabi to twelve years in prison in what is widely being condemned as a “miscarriage of justice.”

Days after the Israeli army raided and shuttered seven Palestinian civil society organizations, Israel is escalating its attacks on the groups, with Israeli intelligence officials reportedly threatening two of groups’ directors with arrest after calling them in for interrogation.

The recent assault on Gaza and raids on Palestinian NGOs reflect an emerging Israeli policy of preemption, or what might be tentatively called the “Gantz Doctrine.”

This week Israel did the unconscionable and shut down the offices of seven Palestinian human rights groups that are doing valiant work in the occupied territory. People ask why Israel would do such a thing, and the simple answer is Zionism.

Israeli forces raided the offices of seven Palestinian civil society organizations, confiscated their equipment and materials, and shuttered their offices, claiming they were “unlawful”. The raids are the latest escalation since Israel arbitrarily designated six of the organizations as “terror groups” last year. Defense for Children International – Palestine director Khaled Quzmar tells Mondoweiss the message is clear: “We are under imminent risk now.”

In a blatant attempt at intimidation, Israel is claiming that providing legal representation to Palestinian civil society organizations violates anti-terrorism laws.

In a new submission to the International Criminal Court, jailed Palestinian human rights lawyer Salah Hammouri called on the court to bring urgency to its investigation of war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

Six months ago there was outrage when the Israeli government designated multiple Palestinian civil society organizations as “terrorist institutions,” including from progressive lawmakers in Washington. But today, despite repeated calls for action, the U.S. government has still not challenged the designations in any way.

Sahar Francis, the General Director of the Ramallah-based group Addameer, warns that the Israeli government’s efforts to undermine Palestinian civil society organizations may just be beginning.