“Ongoing Crisis” The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank/ The summary

The “Lawyers for Justice” group Annual Report 2021-2022 “Ongoing Crisis” The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank The summary The year 2021 marked a qualitative difference in the human rights situation in the West Bank; the pace of violations escalated dramatically, especially after the assassination of the political critic “Nizar Banat” by forces from the security agencies, the techniques used by the security agencies to suppress public rights and freedoms varied, reaching the highest levels of repression. Lawyers for Justice followed up the deterioration of public rights and freedoms in the West Bank during the year, and the harassment, assault and repression that citizens were subjected to due to their practices of those rights. Accordingly; This report deals with civil and political rights in international conventions compared to Palestinian national legislation, these include the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, the right to life, the right to physical and psychological integrity, the right to participate in political life, and the right to litigation and fair trial guarantees, it also reviews the reality of exercising those rights in the occupied West Bank. The group monitored and documented all the cases it followed, in addition to the cases that had a great resonance and impact on the Palestinian street, including the trial sessions of the late “Banat” in the annual report for the second year since the declaration of the state of emergency, which covers the period from (March 2021) to (March 2022), where the number of cases of political arrests increased significantly, and all peaceful demonstrations and assemblies were suppressed, and the method of threats and extortion was used against demonstrators, both males and females, the report also dealt with the harassment and distortion that the group was subjected to, with the aim of hindering its work in protecting human rights, the report also highlighted the continuous targeting of activists and human rights defenders, whether in arrests or summonses by the security agencies.
Repeated accusations against detainees (March 2021 – March 2022)

Most of the interrogated persons were charged with “weapon possession”, and “raising/ collecting fund for illegal organizations”; in order to extend their detention before the court. There were 13 university students among the arrested persons and 5 journalists were arrested due to their activism and work in journalism You can view the electronic copy of the annual report (March 2021-March 2022), entitled ” Ongoing Crisis: The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” through the following link: https://lawyers4justice.ps/ongoing-crisis-the-systematic-nature-of-the-suppression-of-freedoms-in-the-west-bank/ #Ongoing_Crisis
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns in the strongest terms the non-compliance of the security agencies with court decisions
Yesterday, the Magistrate’s Court in Nablus issued a decision to release the political detainee, Riad Abu Al-Hassan, after his family fulfilled the personal guarantee procedures approved by the court as a precondition for his release. However, the Preventive Security refused to comply with the decision of the Magistrate Court in Nablus to release Abu Al-Hassan, and referred him to the Public Prosecution, under arrest pending a new file, as an attempt to cover up his arrest with a legal cover. Abu Al-Hassan was arrested on February 12, 2023 by the Preventive Security Service, two days after the home of his father, lawyer Faris Abu Al-Hassan, was stormed by tens of members of the Preventive Security Service in an attempt to arrest him. However, his absence from the house thwarted this first attempt, which did not carry with it any judicial orders allowing him to be arrested or his house searched. And accordingly; Lawyers for Justice condemns, in the strongest terms, the security services’ transgression of court decisions. Specifically in the cases of political detainees, and keeping the detainees in detention despite the issuance of judicial decisions to release them. Arrest them, and search their homes without legal basis. Therefore, the “Lawyers for Justice” group regrets the continuation of violations against detainees against the backdrop of political and partisan pluralism, especially the executive authority’s uniqueness in making decisions and implementing them according to its whims. … Lawyers for Justice February 23, 2023
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the massacre committed by the occupation forces against our people in Nablus, in which eleven martyrs were martyred.
The “Lawyers for Justice” group condemns the massacre committed by the occupying forces against our people in the centre of the occupied city of Nablus this afternoon, the group mourns the eleven martyrs who were martyred in the crime committed by the occupying forces, and wishes a speedy recovery for tens of those wounded as a result of the attack, which lasted for several hours. The group asserts that this attack comes in the context of the ongoing war waged by the colonial war machine against our people to prevent them from exercising their right to self-determination guaranteed under international human rights conventions, which emphasises the legitimacy of resisting the occupation, which was also emphasised by the United Nations General Assembly in many resolutions. In the face of these ongoing crimes against our people, the group deplores the international community’s continued silence and standing by the “occupying state” while ignoring and denying the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, the group also emphasises the legitimacy of legitimate acts within the framework of self-determ … Lawyers for Justice February 22, 2023
Cancellation of tomorrow’s press conference

At the outset; “Lawyers for Justice” group mourns the martyrs of the city of Nablus who were martyred this afternoon, and wishes the injured a speedy recovery. due to the painful crime committed by the occupation against our people, we decided to cancel the press conference scheduled for tomorrow, in which the annual report for the second year after the declaration of the state of emergency was supposed to be published, entitled “The Ongoing Crisis and the Systematic Nature of Repression of Freedoms in the West Bank”. Accordingly; The group will only publish an electronic version of the report on its website. … Lawyers for Justice February 22, 2023
Violating the right to physical and mental safety (March 2021- March 2022)

Regarding the testimonies, in violating the right to physical and mental safety, 85% of the cases followed up by the Group, reported that their right to physical and mental safety was violated. #ongoing_crisis
Press conference to publish a report entitled “Ongoing Crisis; The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the WestBank”

The “Lawyers for Justice” group is honored to invite you to attend its press conference, which will include the publication of a report on the arbitrary arrests during the Second year of the state of emergency, entitled “Ongoing Crisis; The Systematic Nature of the Suppression of Freedoms in the West Bank” on Thursday the 23th of February 2023 at 12:00 pm at Lawyers for Justice – Al Bireh – Al Balou’ – behind Bun Zheiman. #Ongoing_Crisis
The thirty-ninth session of the trial of the political activist and former detainee; Suha Jabara.

Today, February 20, 2023, the 39th session of the trial of the political activist and former detainee, Suha Jabara, was held at the Jericho Court of First Instance (Jericho Criminal Court). Jabara has been prosecuted since June 2019. She was arrested from her home in the town of Turmusaya in November 2018. The arrest was marked by physical and psychological torture, ill-treatment, a long-hour investigation at the headquarters of the Security Committee and a hunger strike. The Public Prosecution and the “Lawyers for Justice” group had concluded their evidence earlier, and only the stage of the prosecution’s pleading, and the group’s pleading, were left to complete the trial procedures. … Lawyers for Justice February 20, 2023
Administrative Detention (March 2021- March 2022)

The arbitrary arrest cases that had not been presented to any court, were 31 cases including the cases of remand by the governor. #Ongoing_Crisis
Three hearings were held today at the Ramallah Magistrate’s Court for five human rights defenders, following the incidents that followed the assassination of the martyr Nizar Banat.

Today, February 19, 2023, the Ramallah Magistrate Court held three trial sessions for five political activists and human rights defenders, who had previously been arrested on the basis of their participation in demonstrations condemning the assassination of martyr Nizar Banat and/or expressing their opinions about the assassination of martyr Nizar Banat, they are Salem Abdel-Rahman (Al-Qatsh), Jihad Abdo, Ezz El-Din Zaoul, Fakhri Jaradat, and Osama Jaradat. Fakhri Jaradat is being prosecuted in two separate files, one of as a single defendant, and the other with his son, Osama. Although Qatash was arrested by the occupation authorities nearly a year ago, he is still being prosecuted on the aforementioned basis. Although their trial started two years ago, their sessions are still postponed due to the absence of witnesses of the Public Prosecution who are members and officers of the Palestinian police, and by their absence, their files lack of guarantees to a fair trial that must be available. For all of this, domestic law and international agreements and treaties guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to participate in peaceful assemblies. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulated in article (19) thereof that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” And stipulated in Article (20/1) “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” Therefore, the prosecution of political activists and human rights defenders, based on their exercise of their freedom to express their opinions, or their participation in peaceful assemblies, is a violation of the local laws that guarantee these rights, in addition to the treaties and agreements to which the Palestinian Authority has committed itself. … Lawyers for Justice February 19, 2023