Statement by Lawyers for Justice Regarding the Announcement of the Winner of the Nizar Banat Human Rights Defenders Award for 2025
Lawyers for Justice announces the selection of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, a prisoner from the Gaza Strip, as the recipient of the Nizar Banat Award for At-Risk Human Rights Defenders in its inaugural edition. The award was launched by the group on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of human rights activist and political dissident Nizar Banat, in honor of his legacy and struggle for freedom and dignity. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya was chosen following a thorough evaluation process conducted by an independent jury composed of prominent human rights experts. The selection was based on clear criteria, including the nominee’s track record in human rights work, the level of threats and risks faced, place of residence, and the continuity of their activism. Dr. Abu Safiya is a leading physician and human rights defender in Gaza. He is currently detained by the Israeli occupation authorities and lost one of his children during the recent aggression on the Strip. Despite his imprisonment, he continues his struggle from behind bars. The group affirms that this award aims to shed light on the sacrifices made by human rights defenders, particularly in the face of the ongoing genocide against civilians in Gaza and the suppression of freedoms. It also seeks to highlight the suffering of political prisoners and those who defend dignity under fire and bombardment. Lawyers for Justice extends its salute to all shortlisted nominees and considers them partners in the struggle to defend human rights. June 29, 2025Lawyers for Justice
Statement by Lawyers for Justice On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Today, June 26, 2025, marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This day comes at a time when the crime of genocide against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip continues for the second consecutive year, alongside the ongoing settler attacks targeting cities and villages in the occupied West Bank. On this occasion, renewed attention is drawn to the crimes of torture faced by hundreds of individuals each year—especially prisoners and detainees who have experienced incarceration, often accompanied by physical and psychological torture. In this context, the group highlights the alarming escalation in the use of physical and psychological torture against Palestinian prisoners, particularly those who have been detained by Israeli occupation forces after October 7, 2023. Numerous direct testimonies have been documented from Palestinian prisoners who reported unprecedented physical and psychological torture, starting from the moment of arrest, continuing through interrogation, and even during periods of detention in prisons or temporary detention centers, according to verified testimonies from recently released individuals. Additionally, prisoners suffer from systematic ill-treatment, including medical neglect, denial of basic rights, and harsh conditions that amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. Over the past two years, human rights institutions have reported the death of nearly 65 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention facilities, including approximately 40 from Gaza and 25 from the West Bank. The group emphasizes that these figures remain estimations, given the continued Israeli policy of media blackout and refusal to provide accurate information about the fate of hundreds of detainees, especially from Gaza, many of whom remain unaccounted for. These cases include individuals who died as a result of torture and ill-treatment or were subjected to extrajudicial executions after arrest. This demands immediate intervention to halt these crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable to ensure justice for the victims. Torture in Palestinian Authority Detention Centers Despite the Palestinian Authority’s ratification of the Convention Against Torture and its issuance of Law by Decree No. 25 of 2023, recent years—particularly since 2023—have witnessed a concerning continuation of torture practices within detention centers operated by Palestinian security agencies. Dozens of cases have been documented in which detainees were subjected to physical and psychological torture during arrest or detention, including severe beatings, stress positions, insults, and denial of medical care. Many torture-related cases remain under judicial review within the Palestinian courts without resulting in genuine accountability for those responsible for these violations. The facts indicate a significant gap between the legal commitments made by the Palestinian Authority under the Convention Against Torture and the actual practices on the ground. The principle of non-impunity remains unenforced, and judicial procedures lack the effectiveness and independence necessary to ensure justice for victims. This reality entrenches a state of official complicity and silence, undermines public trust in the justice system, and poses a serious threat to human rights and the rule of law in the Palestinian territories. On this occasion, Lawyers for Justice stresses the importance of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms—foremost among them the right to humane treatment—and the absolute rejection of torture under any circumstance or justification.The group emphasizes that this commitment requires official bodies to activate the legal and procedural tools necessary to hold accountable anyone proven to be involved in acts of torture and to bring them to justice, in line with the provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law and the international conventions to which the State of Palestine has acceded—chief among them the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Allowing these violations to persist without accountability strips the law of its meaning and renders legal texts mere theoretical commitments with no practical application, thereby entrenching a culture of impunity and undermining the foundations of justice and the rule of law. Achieving justice for victims and prosecuting those responsible for acts of torture is the cornerstone of building a legal system where human dignity is upheld, and rights and freedoms are protected. EndLawyers for JusticeIssued on 26-06-2025
Statement by Lawyers for Justice on the Fourth Anniversary of the Assassination of Political Activist Nizar Banat
Tuesday, 24 June 2025 Today marks the fourth anniversary of the assassination of the political activist, dissident, and human rights defender Nizar Banat, who was violently arrested and beaten to death at dawn on 24 June 2021 by members of the Preventive Security Service, following a complaint filed by the Public Prosecutor accusing him of “defamation against the authority.” This anniversary comes amid complex political and security conditions, as Israeli occupation crimes continue against our people, especially in the Gaza Strip, which is facing an ongoing campaign of genocide, alongside an unprecedented escalation and crackdown in the occupied West Bank. Regarding the case of Nizar Banat’s assassination, the trial proceedings have remained stagnant since sessions began in September 2021, marked by unjustified delays and serious doubts about the seriousness of the process—particularly after the release of the defendants within a year of the crime, in clear violation of judicial norms and military court protocols for major crimes. This anniversary also coincides with the continued policy of political repression by Palestinian security services. Since Nizar’s assassination, the group has documented hundreds of cases of arbitrary arrest, torture, and ill-treatment against activists and political dissidents. Additionally, 22 citizens and 6 security personnel have been killed since 7 October 2023, with no accountability for most of these crimes, except in cases where indictments were filed against political activists for the killing of security personnel. On this occasion, Lawyers for Justice emphasizes the following: May Nizar Banat and all who have paid with their lives for speaking the truth rest in peace, and may all prisoners of conscience be set free.
Meeting with the Ministry of Justice.
On Sunday, 6-10-2024, Lawyers for justice group held a meeting with the Minister of Justice, Chancellor Sharhabil al-Zaim, in his office in the presence of the Undersecretary of Justice, Professor Ahmed Zabaleh. During the meeting, lawyers for justice expressed about their new project with the support of the Swiss Representative in Palestine and his relationship with the Ministry of Justice. The meeting addressed several issues related to the review of national laws, including a review of the Cybercrime Law. The Minister of Justice expressed the Ministry of Justice’s openness to all forms of cooperation and consultation and to the principle of partnering with Palestinian human rights and civil society institutions in any new ideas and discussing all issues and draft laws at the Council of Ministers table, in order to achieve the goal we all work towards serving the Palestinian citizen and achieving the public interest and protecting public rights and freedoms. The Minister of Justice reaffirmed the State of Palestine’s commitment to harmonizing legislation with all international conventions and treaties signed by the State of Palestine. Both parties expressed their willingness to cooperate in achieving the project’s objectives with the support of the Swiss Representative in Palestine. Till here, Issued in 8-10-2024. Lawyers for Justice
Denouncing the assault on lawyer Morsi Hussein and supporting official authorities.
Press release Lawyers for Justice condemns in the strongest terms the attack on lawyer Morsi Hussein in the city of Ramallah, which was an attempt to threaten his personal security, shoot his vehicle and then burn it down by lawlessness. This assault is a flagrant violation of the law and an attack on individuals’ freedom and rights, which is in total contravention of the principles of justice and human rights. Lawyers, including lawyer Morsi Hussein, play a crucial role in defending human rights and achieving justice. In this sense, the assault on counsel is an attack on the entire legal system and on the principles of justice that each lawyer seeks to achieve. Lawyers for Justice Calls for support for the efforts of law enforcement and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to quickly arrest and bring perpetrators to justice. We also call on civil society and human rights protection institutions to intervene to protect lawyers and ensure that they are able to carry out their work without threat or attack. In this context, we emphasize the need for the Bar Association to follow up with the competent authorities to ensure the necessary protection of lawyers and facilitate their work, in order to ensure that their independence is preserved and that they are protected from any attacks that may hinder their noble work. The assault on lawyers cannot be acceptable in any way, and we will all work to ensure a safe and encouraging environment for lawyers to continue their efforts in the pursuit of justice. Till here, Issued in 11-8-2024. Lawyers for Justice.
Lawyers for Justice held a meeting with Lawyers for Lawyers organization
Lawyers for Justice held a meeting on Tuesday, 9-7-2024, with Lawyers for Lawyers organization which is based in the Netherlands. During the visual communication meeting, the group welcomed the meeting, in which we discussed many issues related to the work of lawyers and human rights defenders and the harassment and incitement of lawyers in Palestine because of their legal activity, including the work of Lawyers for Justice. During the meeting on Palestinian Lawyer’s Day, the group detailed the prosecution of Palestinian lawyers by the Israeli forces , who have arrested nearly 30 lawyers and lawyers since the beginning of the aggression against the Gaza Strip in October last year. In addition to referring to the laws passed by the Israeli occupation forces following October 7, affecting Palestinian prisoners’ rights to occupation prisons and violating fair trial guarantees. The group also raised the harassment and incitement of lawyers by the executive branch because of their activism in the legal and legal defense of human rights defenders. Lawyers for Lawyers expressed solidarity with the work of Palestinian lawyers and the work of Lawyers for Justice in its defense of human rights In this context, the Group was informed of the Organization’s intention to issue a rejection statement of position condemning actions aimed at the work of legal and legal lawyers in the defense of human rights, It was also agreed to develop the relationship between the two parties during the next phase. Till here, Lawyers for Justice, Issued in 11-7-2024.
The trial of three activists of the enough telecommunication companies movement.
Three activists from Enough telecommunication companies movement, Jihad Abdo, Izz-aldeen Zoul and Musa al-Qaysieh, will be tried tomorrow, Tuesday, in Ramallah Magistrates’ Court charging them of defamation based on a complaint filed by the Palestinian Telecommunication Company (Paltel), due to their social and trade union activity to demand reduction in telecommunications prices and not to violate consumer protection laws and regulations. The hearing followed the postponement of the case on 30-6-2024 to enable the complainant’s agent, represented by the Palestinian telecommunications company, to comment on a memorandum of the names of the defense witnesses in the case. The Ramallah Magistrate’s Court had authorized on the 18-4-2024 to call defense witnesses, including the Chairman of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company, to testify before the Court before reversing their summons at a 30-6-2024 hearing at the request of the complainant’s agent who had shown the court that the purpose of calling the prosecuted witnesses was to procrastinate and procrastinate the case. Deferral of their summons at the request of the complainant’s agent. Lawyers for Justice is concerned about any decision by the Magistrate’s Court to prevent the summoning of the said witnesses, which detracts from the right of defense, noting that the previous hearing was the first session for the defense to present its evidence in the case that has been pending since 2020. It took more than four years for the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the complainant to submit the evidence, which the group considers to be a flagrant violation of fair trial guarantees and an inequitable violation of the rights of the accused. Till Here, Lawyers for Justice, Issued in 3-7-2024.
Postponement the murder trial of political – human rights activist Nizar Banat.
A court session was held yesterday, Monday 3rd of June 2024, at Ramallah’s Military Court in the Case of those accused of the murder of political and human rights activist Nizar Banat, during the session which was held in the presence of 14 accused members of Preventative Security services, the defense counsel requested to be given a while to bring witnesses who requested to be brought to the previous hearing. The said agent also requested to address the Aaliyah State Hospital in Hebron in order to bring him with a book showing whether electrical inconveniences had been performed to resuscitate the activist Banat when he was brought to the said hospital; The court rejected the defendant’s request to address the hospital. In response to his request for a witness, the trial was postponed until 1-7-2024. Till here, Issues in 4-6-2024 Lawyers for Justice
The release of the detained student at Arab American University Hamam Al-Haj
The General Intelligence Service released student Hamam al-Haj at the Arab American University yesterday on Wednesday, 29-5-2024, he was detained back on the 5-5-2024, on the background of his trade union and student activities. The Jenin Magistrates’ Court had pronounced Hamam’s release on 16-5-2024, but the General Intelligence Service refused to execute the release order issued by the Jenin Magistrate, and kept him arrested by the director of the General Intelligence Service. Lawyers for Justice considers that the arrest of detainees under the supervision of the security services is an unlawful arrest and action and involves an offence prescribed by law, namely the refusal to implement a 14-day judicial decision and the imprisonment of liberty without legitimate justification. The Group also considers that the said measure contravenes the Constitutional Court’s decision in Constitutional Case No. (18/2022) issued in the 25/1/2023, which earlier annulled the administrative arrest of the Governor and repealed articles of the Jordanian Crime Prevention Law No. (7) Of 1954, which used to allow the violation of the guarantees of a fair trial. Till here, Issued in 30/5/2024. Lawyers for Justice.
Lawyers for Justice condemns the systematic incitement of the group
Lawyers for Justice condemns the systematic incitement of the group and it’s director (Adv. Mohannad Karajeh), the group considers this campaign to be led via a page on Telegram that calls it self “ Eagle of Palestine“ close to officers in Palestinian Security Services, is an integral part of the persistent approach to incitement and repression against human rights action, and the dissemination of false news aimed at activists and human rights defenders. The group notes that this page and other pages supported by individuals in the security services represent social media platforms to incite against activists and human rights defenders These incitement media campaigns are often followed by the arrest of incited persons, the latest of which was the activist Muzed Saqf Alhayt who was arrested by the Preventive Security Service on Thursday night, 23-5-2024, beaten and tortured. Therefor, The Group calls upon the official authorities responsible, including the judiciary, to intervene urgently in order to put an end to this page and those responsible for it, because of their abuse and incitement affecting the entire national and social fabric, in a time where m official institutions must be a shield protecting public rights and freedoms. Also, the group endures security services the responsibility for broadcasting the mentioned page on the Telegram platform and other pages where they note the participation of officers and members of the security services who participate in campaigns of hate speech and misinformation directed against human rights defenders, political activists and opinion activists. Till here Lawyers for Justice issued in 27-5-2024.