{"id":317029,"date":"2026-04-17T13:38:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=317029"},"modified":"2026-04-17T13:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:38:32","slug":"ngo-action-news-16-april-2026","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-16-april-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"NGO Action News &#8211; 16 April 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Middle East<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 17 April, on Palestinian Prisoner\u2019s Day, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/pchrgaza.org\/palestinian-prisoners-day-unprecedented-escalation-of-torture-enforced-disappearance-and-arbitrary-detention-in-israeli-prisons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)<\/a><\/em> warns that thousands of Palestinian prisoners are being subjected to harsh and life-threatening conditions in Israeli detention, including acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity.<\/li>\n<li>On 16 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/peacenow.org.il\/en\/basha-family-eviction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peace Now<\/a><\/em> informed that the General Custodian at Israel\u2019s Ministry of Justice has filed an eviction lawsuit against 12 elderly Palestinians from the Basha family, who have lived since the 1930s in a three-story building in the Old City of Jerusalem. The NGO stated that Israel has established a mechanism for the dispossession and expulsion of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and the General Custodian, a governmental body, has become a central executive arm of this policy. In addition to dozens of eviction lawsuits filed in recent years against Palestinians, the Custodian has also initiated and advanced plans for new settlements within Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem.<\/li>\n<li>On 12 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mezan.org\/public\/en\/post\/46849\/Joint-Media-Release:-Palestinians-file-legal-action-against-the-Minister-for-Defence-to-force-transparency-over-arms-exports-to-Israel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palestinian human rights organizations<\/a><\/em> launched legal action against the Minister for Defense of Australia, seeking the release of documents to determine if the Australian government has permitted arms exports to Israel during ongoing grave violations of international law in the unlawfully Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The groups seek the documents to determine whether the Minister has properly assessed the risk that the arms goods or technology being exported may be used to commit or facilitate serious human rights abuses or may be used in a way contrary to Australia\u2019s international obligations or commitments.<\/li>\n<li>On 9 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mezan.org\/public\/en\/post\/46847\/Rafah-Crossing-Closed-and-Number-of-Aid-Trucks-and-Essential-Goods-Commodities-Continues-to-Drop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Mezan Center<\/a><\/em> called upon the international community \u2013 especially the Â鶹APP, state parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Court of Justice, and International Criminal Court \u2013 to put pressure Israel to end all forms of military attacks on civilians and their properties, to immediately open all Gaza crossings without restrictions to allow the entry of humanitarian aid, fuel, medical equipment, and relief materials, to facilitate their entry to all areas with no exceptions, and to enable engineering teams and municipalities to access all necessary locations to rebuild water and sanitation networks and remove rubble and waste, necessary to prevent the spread of epidemics and environmental disasters.<\/li>\n<li>On 3 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alhaq.org\/advocacy\/27441.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palestinian human rights organizations Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)<\/a><\/em> welcomed the news that the Italian energy company Eni has <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.globes.co.il\/en\/article-eni-drops-out-of-ratio-gas-exploration-consortium-1001538123\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">withdrawn<\/a><\/em> from its energy consortium with the Israeli corporation Ratio Energies, ending plans to engage in gas exploitation in the State of Palestine\u2019s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Africa, Asia and Europe<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 16 April, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eccpalestine.org\/60-organizations-demand-suspension-of-eu-israel-association-agreement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine<\/a><\/em>, alongside over sixty European organizations and trade unions, urged European leaders to adopt long overdue measures and immediately suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The latter includes a binding clause that makes respect for human rights an \u201cessential element\u201d of the deal, meaning the EU has the legal basis to suspend it if those obligations are breached. The NGOs stated that the European Union and its Member States should immediately suspend all transfers and transit of arms, munitions, equipment, technology, parts and dual-use goods to Israel This obligation is not discretionary but arises under both EU and international law.<\/li>\n<li>On 13 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/law4palestine.org\/law-for-palestine-and-the-ichr-launch-a-guide-for-field-researchers-on-collecting-testimonies-and-documenting-international-crimes-in-palestine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Law for Palestine \u2013 United Kingdom<\/a><\/em>, in collaboration with the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Palestine, published a new guide for field researchers in Palestine, the \u201cField Researcher\u2019s Handbook on Documenting for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Other Accountability Mechanisms\u201d. The guide sets out robust methodologies for documenting testimonies and statements relating to war crimes and crimes against humanity in the OPT, in line with international standards. It is designed to ensure that such material can be effectively used before criminal courts, particularly the ICC.<\/li>\n<li>On 10 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2026\/04\/states-must-ensure-safe-passage-for-global-sumud-flotilla-challenging-ongoing-genocide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a><\/em> issued the press release \u201cStates must ensure safe passage for Global Sumud Flotilla as a civilian mission challenging ongoing genocide\u201d. The NGO highlighted that states must uphold their legal obligations under international law and take concrete steps \u201cto help bring an end to Israel\u2019s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza\u201d, including by pressuring Israel to end its the blockade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>North America<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 27 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2021\/04\/27\/abusive-israeli-policies-constitute-crimes-apartheid-persecution\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Human Rights Watch (HRW)<\/a><\/em> issued the press release \u201cAbusive Israeli Policies Constitute Crimes of Apartheid, Persecution: Crimes Against humanity Should trigger Action to End Repression of Palestinians\u201d. The NGO stated that findings of crimes against humanity should prompt the international community to reevaluate the nature of its engagement in Israel and Palestine and adopt an approach centered on human rights and accountability. The NGO called for the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry to investigate systematic discrimination and repression in Israel and Palestine and a UN global envoy for the crimes of persecution and apartheid with a mandate to mobilize international action to end persecution and apartheid worldwide.<\/li>\n<li>On 16 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org\/2026\/04\/16\/jvp-condemns-death-penalty-bill-knesset\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jewish Voice for Peace<\/a><\/em> issued a press release condemning Israel\u2019s new death penalty law, which \u201cplaces thousands of Palestinians at imminent risk of execution and escalates the systematic killing of Palestinians by the Israeli apartheid regime.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Â鶹APP<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 13 April, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/un-experts-pressrelease-13april2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UN Human rights experts<\/a><\/em> expressed grave concern over Israeli military attacks affecting sites sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, alongside renewed patterns of forced displacement in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. \u201cStates must comply with their legal obligations,\u201d the experts said. \u201cThey must bring Israel\u2019s unlawful occupation to an end, refrain from recognizing it and withhold assistance to it, and take effective measures to ensure investigations and accountability for grave violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian Territory.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>On 9 April, the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/march-2026-monthly-bulletin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People<\/a><\/em> issued its monthly bulletin for the month of March 2026, covering <em>inter alia<\/em> settler-violence in the OPT in 2026, Special Rapporteur Albanese\u2019s report \u201cTorture and Genocide\u201d, and the humanitarian situation and restrictions to aid in Gaza.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-16-april-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[6640],"document-source":[5539,5435,2541,1753,2173,6407,2749,6452,6729,2169,3325,2897],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[6985,1741,5362,2285,1745,2137,6844],"entity":[2077,1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-317029","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-ngo-action-news","document-source-al-mezan-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-al-haq","document-source-amnesty-international","document-source-ceirpp","document-source-division-for-palestinian-rights-dpr","document-source-european-coordination-of-committee-and-associations-for-palestine","document-source-human-rights-watch","document-source-jewish-voice-for-peace","document-source-law-for-palestine","document-source-office-for-the-coordination-of-humanitarian-affairs-ocha","document-source-palestinian-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-peace-now","document-subject-accountability","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-ngo-civil-society","document-subject-prisoners-and-detainees","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-war-crimes","entity-non-governmental-organization","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/317029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/317029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":317032,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/317029\/revisions\/317032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=317029"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=317029"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=317029"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=317029"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=317029"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=317029"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=317029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}