On the Conditions of Arrest of Dozens from Jenin and Its Villages During the “Homeland Protection” Security Campaign
Introduction: On December 14, 2024, the Palestinian security forces launched a campaign named “Homeland Protection” in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp. According to the official statement from the security agencies, the campaign aimed to regain control over the camp from what they described as “outlaws.” The campaign resulted in numerous arrests, many of which involved individuals with no history of violent activities. While the campaign’s stated goal was to restore stability, numerous human rights violations and legal infractions were documented, subjecting detainees to illegal and inhumane conditions. Developments: According to a statement by the spokesperson of the security agencies on January 9, 2025, three armed individuals were killed, and 247 people were arrested, including 41 who were injured while resisting arrest. As the campaign continues, Lawyers for Justice Group continues to document and legally follow up on detainees’ cases, particularly those arrested under suspicious circumstances. Arrests and Conditions: While the campaign targeted groups described by security forces as “outlaws,” political arrests persisted against individuals with no involvement in violent activities. Lawyers for Justice documented over 200 arrests and followed up on 57 cases of detainees arrested for non-violent reasons. In most cases brought to trial, charges of “possession of an unlicensed weapon” were filed, though detainees asserted they were unarmed. Instead, they were accused based on photos of weapons found on their phones, social media posts criticizing the security agencies, or familial ties to wanted individuals. Legal and Human Rights Violations: Lawyers for Justice monitored the arrest conditions in Jenin and its camp, confirming multiple severe violations of the detainees’ fundamental rights under Palestinian and international law. The most prominent violations include: Recommendations: Conclusion: The violations committed during the “Homeland Protection” campaign in Jenin constitute serious human rights breaches and undermine fundamental legal protections for detainees. We urge the relevant authorities in Palestine to take necessary measures to uphold justice, safeguard detainees’ rights, ensure fair trials, and adhere to international human rights agreements. Issued in 5-3-2025. Till here, Lawyers for Justice.
Press Release
Press Release The Israeli Occupation Authorities Release Human Rights Defender Lawyer Diala Ayesh after a Year of Administrative Detention. The Israeli occupation authorities released lawyer and human rights activist Diala Ayesh on Tuesday, January 14 2025, from the Jalameh checkpoint in Jenin, after more than a year of arbitrary administrative detention. Lawyer Diala Ayesh was arrested by Israeli occupation forces nearly a year ago while passing through the Container checkpoint in the southern West Bank. During her detention, she was subjected to oppressive practices, including torture, maltreatment, and solitary confinement on several occasions. Diala Ayesh is a prominent human rights defender who has worked throughout her career to provide legal representation for human rights defenders, promote Palestinian rights, and expose the violations committed by the occupation authorities against Palestinian civilians. Her release comes at a time when Palestinian prisoners are subjected to unjust mistreatment, violating the Third Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war. This illegal administrative detention was part of the occupation authorities’ policy to suppress Palestinian activists working to expose Israeli violations. Through this experience, Diala Ayesh continues to serve as a living example of resilience and resistance against the Israeli oppression machine. Lawyers for Justice group reaffirms the necessity of raising awareness against the practice of administrative detention, which is a blatant violation of basic human rights, and emphasizes its ongoing commitment to supporting all activists and human rights defenders in confronting the repressive policies of the occupation. Until now, Lawyers for Justice.
Urgent appeal for the release of students arrested at Birzeit University
Public statement by the Lawyers for Justice Group Lawyers for justice is monitoring with concern the continued detention of five Birzeit University students on the background of their on-campus student and trade union activities. The group has applied for the release of the arrested students, but these applications were rejected, in clear violation of their legal and constitutional rights. The arrest of these students constitutes a violation of freedom of opinion and expression, of freedom of association and of their right to engage in their legitimate activities. Such detention also hinders their academic career and reflects a repression of students’ freedoms. The Group expresses deep concern about the concerns raised by some detainees before the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ramallah Magistrate’s Court judge about torture and ill-treatment in detention These arrests are contrary to the State of Palestine’s international obligations under the treaties and conventions it has signed, which guarantee the right of individuals to engage in trade union work and protect their constitutional rights. A group of lawyers for justice makes an urgent appeal to local and international human rights and civil institutions to press for the immediate release of the arrested students and to ensure the protection of their fundamental rights. The Group also stresses the need to maintain and protect on-campus trade union work as a fundamental right for students to express and assemble peacefully. We affirm in the group of lawyers for justice our full readiness to pursue this case using all available legal means, and we call on all parties concerned to respect human rights and ensure the immediate release of the arrested students. Issued in 15-12-2024. Till here, Lawyers for Justice.
Press release: Nomination of human rights activist Diala Ayesh for the award of Index of Censorship – Freedom of Expression Awards.
Lawyers for justice group is proudly announcing the nominations of our collogue Diala Ayesh for the award of Index of Censorship – Freedom of Expression Awards. For her role in advocacy for the freedom and fair treatment of political prisoners. She has faced arrest, threats, and harassment from both the Israeli occupation forces and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Since 2018, Diala has monitored the suppression, arrest, or persecution of those exercising their human rights and also represented many of those who have been targeted. This includes those arrested during peaceful gatherings or protests and cultural institutions, such as Ashtar Theater, which faced severe suppression during a march in Ramallah in July 2022. Diala has also provided advice to women journalists who faced persecution by Palestinian security agencies and supported the advocacy campaign calling for the release of arrested university students. Following the Hamas 7 October attacks and Israel’s retaliation in Gaza, Diala had continued her work providing legal advice and visiting Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. On 17 January 2024, Israeli military forces arrested Diala Ayesh as she passed through a military checkpoint in the West Bank. On 25 January, she was issued with a four-month administrative detention order by the Israeli military’s Central Command for the occupied West Bank. It has been reported that the order was given without any charge or trial, and she did not appear before a court. This administrative detention order did not include any specific charges. The military court upheld this order, extending it for another four months until 17 May. It was subsequently renewed for an additional four months. According to her lawyers, Diala was subjected to assault, threats, and insults by Israeli soldiers during her arrest. During the first week of her arrest, Diala Ayesh was denied access to her lawyer and any phone calls. Her lawyer could only see her once on 23 January 2024. Since her arrest, her family has not heard from her, and they are not allowed to call or visit her. We wish our colleague all the best and hope for her winning the award for her dedicated work and her beliefs. Till here, Issued in 4-11-2024. Lawyers for Justice.
Lawyers for Justice Group condemns the continued detention of the Mazayed Saqf Al-Hayat
Lawyers for Justice Group condemns the continued detention of the human rights activist and political critic Mazayed Saqf Al-Hayat since 15-10-2024. The detention of the activist Mazayed is the third time this year follows ongoing defamation and incitement campaigns against him, on the background of his exercise of freedom of opinion and expression and criticism of the Palestinian Authority’s policies. Mazayed was indicted on charges of provoking sectarian nudity, wrongdoing against the authorities, defamation by using electronic means and demeaning the authorities on 21-10-2024. The Nablus Magistrates’ Court continues to refuse the release the activist to suspend his activities in the public order and security. Lawyers for Justice has appealed against decisions to reject the release, but the court has dismissed the appeal and kept the activist detained. Lawyers for Justice cautioned against the persistence of the repressive approach to issues of opinion and expression, which had become a threat to human rights and called on the Group to respect the detainee’s rights and not to be subjected to it and to ensure that he received a fair trial and his immediate release. Issued in 21-10-2024, Till here, Lawyers for Justice.
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.
Confirmation of a new warrant for Diala Ayesh upon the request of Military Occupation Prosecutor
On Thursday morning, 23-5-2024, the Military Court of Ofar Occupational Prison held a new session to confirm the administrative arrest warrant for the second time against lawyer and human rights defender Diala Ayesh. During the hearing, the military prosecutor requested the confirmation of a new order for the administrative detention of lawyer Ayesh for a period of 4 months without disclosing the reasons under a secret file, according to the military occupation prosecutor. This extension came after the lawyer Ayesh spent 4 months in administrative detention, following her arrest at a military checkpoint in the south of the occupied West Bank on 16 January 2024, and days after the military court rejected an appeal by her counsel to release her and prevent the extension. Administrative arrest warrants issued by the military courts of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian prisoners, which are based on the Mandatory Emergency Law, are considered to be a violation of fair trial guarantees, a derogation of the right to self-determination, all of which are guaranteed under human rights conventions and treaties. Till here Lawyers for Justice issued in 27-5-2024.
Nablus Magistrate’s Court has extended the arrest of the citizen Muzed Saqf Alhayt for 15 days upon the request of the Nablus Prosecutor’s Office
Thursday 23-5-2024, The Nablus Magistrate’s Court, extended the arrest of the citizen Muzed Saqf Alhayt for 15 days upon the request of the Nablus Prosecutor’s Office for the purpose of completing the investigation. On Wednesday 22-5-2024, the Nablus Preventive Security Service arrested the human rights activist Saqf Alhayt , after breaking into his house and attacked him with rifle butts on his head and body, and insulted him in front of his wife and children. His arrest came after a campaign of incitement and threats targeted by social media groups by Palestinian Security Agency, this was a part of a policy of targeting human rights defenders with the goal of intimidating them to prevent activists from expressing their opinions guaranteed by Palestinian Constitutional Law. This arrest isn’t the first one to Saqf Alhayt against the backdrop of his political views and expression of opinion, where he is currently is being tried before the Palestinian judiciary for contempt of power, against the backdrop of criticism of the Palestinian Authority, but is remarkable in this arrest; Severe beatings, which have become a threat to his life. During the interrogation on Thursday morning of 23-5-2024 in front of the Nablus Prosecutor’s Office, the activist further raised his continued beatings and torture by the Preventive Security Service. This was documented in the interrogation transcript. Nevertheless, the Prosecutor’s Office took no action to protect him from beatings and torture. Lawyers for Justice considers the conduct of the Public Prosecutor ‘ Represents a disregard for the safety and security of detainees held by security services against the background of their human rights activity and expression of opinion. The group cautions that such conduct gives legal cover to repression and torture, The group therefore calls on the Public Prosecutor Office to intervene in order to protect the detainee, and release him immediately and ensure that his arrest does not continue at his current detention center. This statement is considered an urgent appeal for immediate intervention Lawyers For Justice notes that since the beginning of May, dozens of citizens have been arrested in the largest toll of detainees against a political background and the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression since the beginning of Israel’s aggression against the Gaza Strip on October 7. This calls into question the seriousness of the new Palestinian Government’s announcement on improving the situation of public rights and freedoms. Till here, Lawyers for Justice issued in 27/5/2024.
Postponement of trial of alleged murderers of political and human rights activist Nizar Banat.
The trial of the accused in the case of the murder of political and human rights activist Nizar Banat was held at the Ramallah Military Court on Monday, 20-5-2024 During the trial, the defense counsel of all 14 previously released defendants, presented to the court witness Samir Abu Zarour, who’s retired since 2017. He was the head of the autopsy department of the Ministry of Justice. prior to his retirement in 2017. He represented the Independent Human Rights Commission in attendance at the autopsy of the late Nizar Banat following his murder on 24 July 2021 without participating in the autopsy. During the ongoing trial since September 2021, the court heard the testimony of the doctor and he was discussed by the defense counsel and the military prosecution. He also stated that he hadn’t applied for the examination, and what can be highlighted in this context is the assertion by the defense witness of the accused that the cause of death of Nizar Banat was due to an abnormal cause of death. In addition to determining the proportion of injuries on the dead person’s body by 21% of the body area, Distributed on the head, face and shoulder from the back, upper and lower limbs and back area, The witness also stated that these blows to the deceased’s body did not result to death, according to him. And the witness concluded that the cause of death, according to the autopsy committee, was caused by traumatic trauma resulting in death, the cause of death, from the witness’ point of view, was due to asphyxiation because of congestion in the face of the deceased, as described. At the end of the trial proceedings, the defense counsel requested to notice a witness and to be brought, and also requested that the next trial hearing be confidential, so that the testimony of the said witness would relate to national security, for that reasons, next hearing was postponed to 3.6-2024. In this context, Lawyer for Justice considers that the holding of the trial to be confidential contravenes the revolutionary Code of Criminal Procedure in force of 1979 and its amendments. Till here, Lawyers for Justice Issued in 21/5/2024.