Justice and Human Rights Israel Project #61635

Solidarity, emergency legal help for Palestinians

by Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel

Project Report | Jul 15, 2026
Palestinian NGO Solidarity with International Humanitarian NGOs Operating in the OPT

By Ranna Khalil | Researcher

Dear friends,

As Israel's genocide in Gaza, settler and military violence in the West Bank, and the forced displacement of Palestinians continue, Israel has taken further steps to restrict the work of international humanitarian organizations (IHOs) serving Palestinian communities in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). These measures threaten the delivery of lifesaving assistance at a time of unprecedented humanitarian need. The Israeli Supreme Court (SCT) has now reinforced these restrictions, further undermining the ability of humanitarian organizations to operate and protect Palestinian rights.

On 19 May 2026, the SCT upheld new government regulations requiring IHOs operating in the OPT to re-register in Israel under highly restrictive conditions. The petition, brought by the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) and 18 other groups that provide life-saving assistance in the OPT, challenged an Israeli Government Decision and the pursuant procedure enacted in March 2025 regarding the requirement for IHOs working primarily with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem to re-register in Israel. The regulations require organizations to disclose extensive personal information about Palestinian and international staff members and introduce vague political criteria that can be used to deny or revoke registration, including alleged "delegitimization" of Israel or support for international accountability efforts.

The decision has severe humanitarian consequences. Organizations that fail to comply risk losing their legal authorization to operate, including access to visas and border crossings that are essential for delivering humanitarian assistance. As a result of these regulations, 37 humanitarian organizations are not re-registered, placing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank at even greater risk.

In response, Adalah and 10 leading Palestinian NGOs in Israel published a joint public statement in May 2026 opposing the SCT's ruling and calling on the international community to take immediate action. The statement stressed that the decision further undermines humanitarian operations at a time when Palestinian civilians continue to endure catastrophic humanitarian conditions, repeated military attacks, widespread displacement, and severe shortages of basic necessities.

The groups highlighted the grave risks created by the requirement to disclose detailed information about humanitarian workers, particularly given the dangers faced by aid workers in Gaza, who have repeatedly been killed, attacked, subjected to surveillance and intimidation, and faced severe movement restrictions. The organizations warned that these measures threaten the independence, neutrality, and safety of humanitarian operations while further shrinking civic space and intensifying restrictions on organizations advocating for Palestinian rights.

The statement further emphasized that the Court failed to meaningfully consider Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law, including its duty to facilitate humanitarian relief for the civilian population in Gaza. It also failed to acknowledge that the humanitarian catastrophe has been driven in large part by Israel's own actions and the extensive restrictions imposed by its authorities.

The organizations concluded that the ruling forms part of a broader pattern of measures aimed at shrinking civil society space, silencing criticism of Israeli policies, and criminalizing advocacy for accountability and Palestinian rights. The decision comes as civilians in Gaza continue to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions despite the declared ceasefire, with ongoing military assaults, mass destruction, forced displacement, and widespread deprivation of food, water, medical care, and other basic necessities.

The statement called on the international community to take urgent action to ensure the continued operation of humanitarian organizations, protect humanitarian workers, and guarantee the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Through this coordinated advocacy effort, Adalah is amplifying the voices of civil society and drawing international attention to policies that restrict humanitarian relief and undermine the protection of civilians. We remain committed to working alongside local and international partners to challenge measures that obstruct humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of Palestinian civilians and the organizations that serve them.

Thank you for your continued support.

The Adalah Team

Permalink

Mar 3, 2026
Defending Palestinian Residents' Right to Return to Gaza

By Ranna Khalil | Researcher

Dear friends,

In these extremely difficult days, we are experiencing yet again another ferocious and dangerous war – this time a regional war across the Middle East, following attacks launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. Under the cover of this expanding war, Gaza continues to endure a genocide.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire months ago, daily life in Gaza remains defined by heavy Israeli bombardment that kills and injures civilians on a daily basis, and families remain almost totally dependent on external humanitarian assistance for survival. However, despite ICJ decisions and UN resolutions, Israel’s acute restrictions on the entry of life-saving aid have further deepened, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to loom large. In this context, Israel recently announced new measures to deregister 37 international humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory unless they comply with sweeping and restrictive new rules. Several aid organizations petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to challenge the legality of these new requirements, and the Court issued an interim injunction temporarily halting the process and allowing the NGOs to continue to work but the case remains pending. The uncertainty surrounding this process – which appears to have been taken in bad faith - continues to jeopardize the delivery of essential services to Palestinians at a time when they are most urgently needed.

The situation at Gaza’s crossings have become even more dire amid the regional escalation. Following the attacks on Iran, Israel announced the complete closure of all Gaza crossings, including the Rafah crossing – which only partially reopened last month, after being closed since May 2024. Rafah is a critical lifeline, particularly for Palestinians who need urgent medical treatment abroad and for those who were stranded outside Gaza, including for medical treatment, and who now seek to return home.

In response to these developments, Adalah, together with Gisha, has taken urgent legal action. We sent a detailed letter to Israeli authorities calling for the immediate halt to the harassment, obstruction, and arbitrary questioning of Palestinians seeking to re-enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing. We warned of what appears to be a deliberate pattern of conduct aimed at preventing or deterring Palestinians from returning to the Strip.

Since the Rafah Crossing’s reopening, Israel has required prior authorization for anyone seeking to enter or leave and has imposed severe restrictions on movement, with only a negligible number of Gazans permitted to re-enter. The Israeli army also announced that residents who were outside Gaza at the outbreak of the war would be barred from returning all together.

Our letter cited media reports indicating that on one specific day, Israel allowed only 12 individuals to return instead of the promised 50 persons per day, without any explanation. Testimonies referenced in these reports describe the treatment of returnees as abusive and degrading, including blindfolding, handcuffing, threats, and the confiscation of personal property.Additionally, some residents retold that they were transported within the Strip by Israeli-backed armed militias, where they faced prolonged delays, invasive questioning, and pressure to provide information under threat of their own arrest or the arrest of family members.

Adalah and Gisha stressed that preventing the return of residents, imposing preconditions, and subjecting them to harassment and threats may constitute the crime of forcible transfer of a population, which is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime. Such acts may also amount to crimes against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic policy directed against a civilian population.

Adalah and Gisha further contended that Israel’s actions are intended not only to humiliate and harm residents returning to their homes—which is inherently prohibited conduct—but also to intimidate and sow fear among those seeking to return to Gaza. There is serious concern that this constitutes a clear attempt to deter the population and frustrate the return of Palestinians to Gaza.

The organizations demanded the immediate cessation of abusive, arbitrary, or punitive practices at Rafah, and that Israel act in full compliance with international law to allow Palestinians to return to their homes in Gaza.

At this moment of profound crisis—marked by regional war, ongoing mass atrocities in Gaza, severe restrictions on humanitarian operations, and the tightening closure of crossings—Adalah’s legal work remains both urgent and indispensable to uphold the fundamental rights of Palestinians. We are deeply grateful for your continued support, which enables us to respond to emerging human rights violations and to pursue strategic litigation even under the most challenging conditions.

In solidarity,

The Adalah team

Permalink

Oct 23, 2025
Adalah Represents Around 500 Freedom Flotilla Activists Unlawfully Detained by Israel

By Ranna Khalil | Researcher

Just days before a fragile ceasefire, Israel unlawfully intercepted four humanitarian missions in international waters attempting to break the blockade on Gaza: The Global Sumud Flotilla and Omar Al-Mukhtar ship (1–2 October), the Conscience ship, and the Thousands Madleens Flotilla (8 October). These missions aimed to deliver urgently needed aid to Gaza and raise global awareness of the genocide. The flotillas included around 50 vessels and more than 600 participants from around the world.

Nearly two decades into Israel’s blockade, and as a result of its genocide, Gaza remains under a devastating siege that has crippled all aspects of life. Residents face severe shortages of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, with hospitals near collapse and many people live without shelter. The intercepted flotillas represented a vital attempt to respond to this crisis and challenge the continued isolation and collective punishment of Gaza’s population.

Following the ships' interception, Israeli authorities subjected the participants to harsh treatment and severely restricted their access to legal counsel. Despite these obstacles, Adalah staff, together with volunteer lawyers, acted swiftly to defend participants’ rights, ensure their safety, and demand their immediate release and safe return home.

_____________________________________________________

The Israeli navy intercepted all flotilla vessels in international waters, a flagrant violation of international law. Activists reported being attacked by drones, Israeli forces and helicopters before their ships were seized and towed to Ashdod Port. The authorities transferred most participants to Ktzi’ot Prison, located in Israel’s far south in the Naqab (Negev), a facility known for its harsh conditions. The police arrested three participants with Israeli citizenship and interrogated them under charges of “infiltrating a closed military area.” They were eventually released after three court hearings and further easing of restrictions, following their refusal to sign onto onerous conditions of release.

Despite Adalah’s prior notification to the Israeli authorities that we would represent the detainees, they denied or severely limited some participants’ access to legal counsel. After repeated interventions, Adalah lawyers did provide legal consultations to almost 500 participants and attended emergency detention hearings at Ashdod Port, and before the Detention Review Tribunal at Ktzi’ot Prison, and the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court. Adalah argued, among other points, that Israel’s blockade on Gaza is illegal; that the interception of the vessels and the detention of the activists were unlawful; and that the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents by international organizations is legal, according to the International Court of Justice’s decision in the case of South Africa v. Israel. Adalah further argued that this action does not constitute illegal entry into Israel, as Gaza is not part of Israel. On this basis, Adalah’s lawyers requested the immediate release of all activists and demanded that they be allowed to return to their vessels to deliver the humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Some participants reported that Israeli forces, including prison guards, subjected them to violence, humiliation, and degrading treatment, including denial of food, water, and essential medication, even for life-threatening conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. Many activists testified that they were handcuffed, blindfolded, and forced into painful positions for hours. Women and Arab participants contended that they faced discriminatory and abusive treatment.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, appearing at Ashdod Port during the detentions, publicly praised the mistreatment of activists and called them “terror supporters.” Adalah condemned these statements as open endorsement of state-sanctioned abuse and dehumanization.

By 12 October, the authorities released all participants aboard the Conscience and Omar Al-Mukhtar ships and the Sumud and Thousands Madleens flotillas and/or deported them to their home countries.

Learn more about Adalahs' representation of the flotilla participants

These incidents mark a significant escalation in the Israeli authorities abuse and mistreatment of humanitarian activists compared to earlier flotilla missions in June and July 2025, including the Madleen and Handala vessels. The intensified repression demonstrates Israel’s clear intent to deter future flotillas.

Adalah, together with volunteer attorneys, worked around the clock to demand the safety and immediate release of all participants in the six missions launched this year and to secure full access to legal counsel. Throughout this period, Adalah maintained close contact with embassies and consulates regarding the situation of the activists and responded to hundreds of inquiries from family members, international coalitions and media outlets. Adalah’s representation of the flotilla participants received widespread international media attention.

Media highlights include:

Israeli forces board Gaza flotilla, detain Greta Thunberg, other activists, Aljazeera English, 1 October 2025
Activists allege Greta Thunberg mistreated as flotilla detainees arrive in Turkey, Reuters, 4 October 2025
Gaza flotilla passengers allege poor conditions in detention as Israel prepares to deport dozens of activists, The Guardian, 6 October 2025
Israel Intercepts Another Activist Flotilla that Aimed to Break Gaza Blockade, The NY Times, 8 October 2025

Adalah continues to assist the Freedom Flotilla participants. On 12 October 2025, Adalah asked the Haifa Maritime Court to reject the state’s demands to seize the Madleen and Handala ships (intercepted in June and July 2025), citing lack of legal authority.

Permalink

1 2 3 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.