|
In the past two weeks, we have witnessed a swift and deadly escalation in violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Hostilities were sparked by Israel’s violent repression of protests against the imminent eviction of Palestinian refugee families from Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem, and then intensified as Israeli police stormed and blockaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on 10 May, attacking worshippers and preventing them from praying at the site during the holy month of Ramadan. Renewed hostilities broke out with Gaza, as militant groups retaliated against Israel’s assaults on Al-Aqsa, in response to which Israel launched massive airstrikes that have killed 230 people, including 65 children to date. This latest escalation comes against the backdrop of Israel’s prolonged occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The situation inside Israel also quickly deteriorated as Palestinian citizens of Israel took to the streets in Arab towns and cities across Israel to demonstrate in mass protests in solidarity with Palestinians in East Jerusalem and Gaza. These protests were also met by police brutality and a draconian clampdown on freedom of speech and assembly. The Defense Minister declared an extraordinary “civil emergency” in Lod (Lydd), a first in Israel since military rule ended in 1966. Organized, ultra- right Jewish Israelis, including settlers, attacked Palestinian citizens of Israel and their property, as well as mosques in Arab towns and cities across the country, often with police protection and collusion. Throughout this period, Adalah’s team has been working day and night to defend Palestinians and their basic human rights in Israel, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
Highlights of this work include the following actions:
|
