previous and current staff of Addameer

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 31.046051

Longitude: 34.851612

From Region

Individual's/organization's activity: provides legal aid to Palestinian prisoners

Type of rights defended

Reported trigger of reprisal: “Addameer was active in UN institutions and took part in the Human Rights Council’s discussions on Israel, including in March 2018, where it urged the International Criminal Court to take action against Israel. The NGO continues to interact with the UNHRC on issues pertaining to Israel.”

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Reprisal information: On 13 May 2020, the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs released a public report on Palestinian human rights organization Addameer, which provides legal aid to Palestinian prisoners. The report references Adameer’s cooperation with the UN and claims that the organization is “tied to terrorism” and is among the NGOs which “advocate for the boycott of Israel and have a radically anti-Israel agenda.”43 The report alleges that previous and current staff of Addameer are “affiliates” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been defined as illegal under Israeli military law, and that Addameer is linked to terrorism, including for its provision of legal aid. The report specifically states that “Addameer was active in UN institutions and took part in the Human Rights Council’s discussions on Israel, including in March 2018, where it urged the International Criminal Court to take action against Israel. The NGO continues to interact with the UNHRC on issues pertaining to Israel.” 44 The Ministry calls on “Western governments, international humanitarian organizations, social media networks, financial institutions and foundations” to refrain from meeting with Addameer’s personnel or issuing them visas, to audit their social media posts, and to increase oversight and transparency regarding Addameer’s financial accounts to ensure compliance with terror financing laws.

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: Yes

Government response content: On 17 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report noting that while Israel does not seek to curtail freedom of expression nor to limit humanitarian activity, it does seek and will continue to act to stop terror and cut off its funding. Regarding Addameer in particular, the Government stated that it promotes the interests of PFLP operatives who serve prison terms in Israel, with emphasis on terrorists who are responsible for serious terrorist attacks committed against Israelis, and that calls by the Ministry of Strategic Affairs to increase oversight and transparency regarding Addameer’s financial accounts are legitimate and appropriate.

Which State raised the case at the UN and when?: Namibia raised Reprisals against "Palestinian Human Rights Organizations" by Israel - so not Addameer by name specifically

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No

Follow up information provided in SG report 0: one staff in each of the NGOs – Addameer (See Annex II), Al-Haq and Bisan Center for Research and Development – were surveilled and had their phones hacked with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware. (ISR 11/2021).

Was this case followed up by a UN body? 0