Freedom of association

Whereas UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called Israel’s suspension of numerous aid agencies from Gaza outrageous and urged all States, in particular those with influence, to take urgent steps and insist that Israel immediately allows aid to get into Gaza unhindered, Palestinian civil society organizations note that this Israeli measure is part of a broader policy aimed at continuing the crime of genocide through the tightening of the suffocating siege and the restrictions on the entry of aid to the Gaza Strip. 

On 30 December 2025, Israel announced its intention to prevent 37 international humanitarian and aid organisations from operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT).  Several statements by Palestinian civil society groups condemn the recent Israeli actions aimed at restricting or suspending the work of international humanitarian organizations operating in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, at a time when the civilian population is going through an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis.

PNGO in its statement emphasized that humanitarian and health work is protected under international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, which oblige the occupying power to facilitate humanitarian access and ensure the unhindered continuity of health and humanitarian services. Likewise in a statement issued Al Haq   reminded  that Israel’s admission to UN membership through UNGA Resolution 273 was made conditional on Israel honouring its obligations under Resolution 181 with respect to the status of Palestine and Jerusalem, and Resolution 194 on the return and repatriation of Palestinian refugees, two resolutions which Israel has consistently refused to fulfil since 1948, including through these latest attacks on institutional humanitarian support in Palestine, and therefore, is in violation of its terms of membership in the UN.

Systematic attacks to civil society offices and raids continue as well, reported by  La Via Campesine,  on 1st December 2025 in the offices of La Via Campesina’s (LVC) member organisation- Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)- in Ramallah and Hebron were raided. Calling for the urgent release of their members, LVC noted that  The raid targeted specifically infrastructures of the Palestinian seeds bank in Hebron, destroying seed stocks that represent their plant genetic heritage. Following the incident, in a statement issued by OHCHR Palestine,  it was noted that the attack on UAWC followed weeks of harassment and public incitement by Israeli settlers and leaders of settler groups, particularly citing UAWC’s work during the olive harvest season.

Freedom of expression

In a press release issued by the UN the shrinking civic space and restrictions imposed on journalists were acknowledged. Accordingly, between 7 October 2023 and 14 December 2025, the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has verified the killing of 289 journalists in Gaza by Israeli military operations.