Latest news with #HindRajabFoundation
Roya News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
'Israel' sanctions Hind Rajab Foundation leaders amid escalating legal battles
'Israel' has issued a sanctions list targeting 50 individuals, with the leadership of the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) prominently featured, according to a statement released by the organization on social media platform X. The foundation's Chairman, Dyab Abou Jahjah, co-founders Karim Hassoun and Haroon Raza, and three lawyers associated with their work are at the top of the list. Israeli Hasbara Alert Israel has issued a sanctions list targeting 50 individuals. At the very top are our Chairman Dyab Abou Jahjah and co-founders Karim Hassoun and Haroon Raza, followed by three lawyers who have worked with the #HindRajabFoundation. This escalation is… — The Hind Rajab Foundation (@HindRFoundation) July 5, 2025 The sanctions come as the Hind Rajab Foundation increasingly pursues legal action against 'Israeli' officials and soldiers in various international jurisdictions, war crimes and human rights violations in the Gaza Strip. The HRF stated that this move by 'Israel' is "not coincidental" and follows "the success of our legal filing in Peru and the growing international traction of our cases." In May 2025, Peru initiated a formal criminal investigation into an 'Israeli' soldier accused of participating in the destruction of civilian neighborhoods in Gaza, following a complaint filed by the HRF. This marked a significant development for the foundation, which has filed numerous complaints in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and the UK, and also submitted a complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against over 1,000 'Israeli' soldiers and high-ranking officials. The Hind Rajab Foundation, named after six-year-old Palestinian Hind Rajab who was killed in Gaza, was established in 2024 with the stated mission of challenging 'Israeli' impunity regarding alleged war crimes. The organization actively gathers evidence, often from social media posts by 'Israeli' soldiers, to build its cases. In its statement, the HRF expressed concern over an impending "large-scale Hasbara (propaganda) campaign" aimed at delegitimizing the foundation and creating confusion. They urged supporters to "remain vigilant, principled, and focused," asserting that the sanctions are a clear indication that 'Israel' views their work as a "serious threat to its impunity." "Their attacks are the clearest sign that our work is making a real impact," the HRF stated, vowing not to be intimidated or divided and to continue their efforts to "hold them accountable." While the 'Israeli' government has not publicly commented on this specific sanctions list, previous reports indicate that 'Israeli' officials are aware of and follow the HRF's activities, though some downplay their overall impact. However, the 'Israeli' military has reportedly implemented new rules regarding soldiers' social media use to prevent doxxing and potential legal repercussions abroad. The imposition of sanctions on the HRF's leadership highlights the escalating legal and political tensions surrounding accountability for actions in the Gaza war, as human rights organizations increasingly leverage international legal frameworks to challenge perceived impunity.
Middle East Eye
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
'Unprecedented': Israeli directive bans dozens of Americans, Europeans for advocacy
A new directive from the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs has banned dozens of political and legal advocates from the US, UK, Canada, and Europe from entering Israel due to their "intentional delegitimisation of the State of Israel and its defence forces", the document said. Entry visas will no longer be granted to those who "knowingly" and "publicly" called for a boycott of Israel; disseminated Holocaust denial content; denied the impact of the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023; or "supported or publicised" initiatives to hold Israeli citizens or soldiers accountable in a non-Israeli court of law, according to the text. Among the targeted organisations is the Hind Rajab Foundation, named after the five-year-old girl in Gaza who was killed by a spray of Israeli gunfire as she waited for first responders. She had spent hours inside a besieged vehicle as the only survivor among the dead bodies of her relatives. The group has been instrumental in tracking down members of the Israeli military, using their social media accounts and alerting international governments as to their whereabouts so they may be apprehended. According to the document, the Hind Rajab Foundation "has submitted complaints against soldiers in at least eight countries, and filed information with the International Criminal Court accusing over 1,000 soldiers and officers of war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The directive also listed Al-Haq Europe, the Brussels-based arm of the Palestinian legal organisation, which has pushed for ICC accountability for Israel on the charge of "apartheid" long before the current events stemming from the 7 October 2023 attacks. 'What is Israel afraid of?' Two UK-based groups, Law for Palestine and Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR), are also named in the document. Canadian law professor Michael Lynk, the former United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, currently serves on the board of LPHR and was specifically named in the text. 'One has to ask: What is Israel afraid of?" Lynk said in a written statement provided to Middle East Eye. Genocide happens when Israelis believe they're above the law, Holocaust scholar says Read More » "We created modern international law after the Second World War to ensure that basic human rights would be respected and enforced, and conflicts would be resolved through established rules, councils and courts, rather than by wars. Banning myself and the others who work for these peaceful organizations shows contempt for the rule of law," he said. In Washington, DC, eight senior staff members at Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), founded by former Washington Post columnist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, have also been banned from entering Israel. Key among them is John Paul, the first senior official to resign from the US State Department in October 2023 over the Biden administration's handling of Israel's response to 7 October 2023. Paul is now an adviser at Dawn. The former director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch, Sarah Leah Whitson, is also listed, and now serves as the executive director at Dawn. "The pursuit of justice and accountability is not a crime, and the United States should not tolerate as a partner a country that treats it as one," Paul said in a statement shared on his LinkedIn account on Wednesday. 'Oppressive authoritarian regimes' Raed Jarrar, the only Palestinian American on staff at Dawn who is also named in the ban, told MEE that the organisation's push for international legal mechanisms against Israel "definitely threatens Israel's apartheid [and] definitely threatens Israel's genocide. It threatens Israel's racism. And that is what we are hoping for, and that's why they're scared." "Attempts to stifle free speech in the US and harass international activists gives a thumbs up and the green light to many abusive regimes around the world, including Israel, to embolden their similar moves," Jarrar said, referring to the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestine activists and the revocation of their student or work visas. Dawn is looking into how it can challenge the directive, given that a blanket ban on several American citizens may potentially conflict with the 2023 US-Israel visa waiver programme. 'Israel has landed in a place that has put her among the most oppressive authoritarian regimes in the region and the world' - Raed Jarrar, Dawn Jarrar called it "unprecedented". The programme permits overseas visitors to remain in the US for up to 90 days without a visa, reciprocating the same privilege to US citizens in participating countries. For decades prior, Israelis were not able to come to the US without visas, as Americans of Palestinian descent were routinely interrogated and disallowed entry into Israel and the occupied West Bank. That changed just days before 7 October 2023. 'The designation of Israel into the Visa Waiver Program is an important recognition of our shared security interests and the close cooperation between our two countries,' Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in late September 2023. 'This designation, which represents over a decade of work and coordination between the United States and Israel, will enhance our two nations' collaboration on counterterrorism, law enforcement and our other common priorities... [it] will make both of our nations more secure," he added. However, the programme is "not supposed to be denying US citizens based on our political views and political activity", Jarrar told MEE. "Israel has landed in a place that has put her among the most oppressive authoritarian regimes in the region and the world."
Saba Yemen
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
HR Org files complaint in Netherlands against "Israeli" officer
Amsterdam – Saba: The Hind Rajab Foundation, a Brussels-based human rights organization, has filed a legal complaint with the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office against an "Israeli" Air Force officer currently in the Netherlands, accusing him of participating in the genocide in Gaza. According to al-Quds Press, the Hind Rajab Foundation officially filed a legal complaint with the Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday against Lavi Lazarovitch, a major in the "Israeli" Air Force, who is currently in the Netherlands as part of the Cyber Ark World Tour, organized by the "Israeli" cybersecurity company Cyber Ark. This action is part of the Hind Rajab Foundation's broader legal strategy to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable, in cooperation with legal teams from multiple jurisdictions, and in accordance with the principle of universal jurisdiction enshrined in Dutch and international law. The Hind Rajab Foundation, founded in February 2024, is headquartered in Brussels and is active in pursuing "Israeli" officials and military personnel through lawsuits worldwide. The foundation is named after a five-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed, along with six of her relatives, by the enemy army when they were sheltering in a car southwest of Gaza City on January 29, 2024. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Days of Palestine
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Six-Year-Old Hind Rajab's Killer Identified
DaysofPal- After a year-long investigation, the Hind Rajab Foundation has reportedly identified the Israeli occupation unit and its commanding officer responsible for the killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, along with her family members and two medics who attempted to rescue her. The foundation, established in memory of the young victim, released a detailed statement holding the unit accountable for targeting a civilian vehicle and deliberately destroying a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance dispatched to save Hind. According to the foundation's findings, an Israeli tank unit operating under the direction of the identified commander attacked on January 29, 2024. The strike targeted the civilian car carrying Hind and six of her family members. All but Hind were killed instantly. For hours, the critically injured child remained alive, whispering into a phone connected to ambulance dispatchers, 'I'm so scared… please come.' Tragically, the ambulance sent to rescue her met the same fate as the family's vehicle. The Israeli occupation forces fired on the medical team, killing two medics inside the ambulance and leaving Hind stranded until she succumbed to her injuries. A Call for Accountability The Hind Rajab Foundation vowed to pursue justice relentlessly, stating that they would hold every individual involved in the incident accountable—'those who gave the orders, those who fired, those who covered it up, and those who let it happen.' In their statement, the organization urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against those implicated. 'This was not an accident or a mistake,' the foundation emphasized. 'It was a calculated act of violence against unarmed civilians and humanitarian workers. We demand full accountability for this crime.' The Attack and Its Aftermath Eyewitness accounts and investigative reports compiled by the foundation paint a chilling picture of the events leading up to Hind's death. On the day of the attack, Hind's family had been traveling in their private vehicle when Israeli tanks opened fire without warning. The vehicle was reduced to rubble, trapping the family inside. While most perished immediately, Hind survived long enough to make contact with emergency services, pleading for help in heartbreaking detail. When the ambulance arrived at the scene, witnesses reported seeing it clearly marked with the emblem of the Palestine Red Crescent Society—a universally recognized symbol of medical neutrality. Despite this, Israeli occupation forces allegedly targeted the ambulance, obliterating any chance of survival for Hind and murdering the two medics aboard. The foundation's investigation included testimonies from survivors, analysis of satellite imagery, and cross-referencing communications between Israeli military units during the time of the attack. These efforts led them to pinpoint the specific tank unit and its commander responsible for the operation. International Outcry and Calls for Justice The identification of the unit and commander has reignited calls for accountability amid widespread condemnation of Israeli crimes in Gaza. Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Israeli occupation forces of systematically violating international law by targeting civilians and obstructing humanitarian aid. Hind's case has become emblematic of the broader atrocities faced by Palestinians in Gaza, where thousands of children have been killed or maimed since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. Her story has drawn global attention, with activists and advocacy groups demanding action from international bodies such as the ICC and the United Nations. In response to the foundation's findings, Amnesty International issued a statement calling for an independent inquiry into the incident. 'This is yet another example of Israeli disregard for human life and its blatant violations of international humanitarian law,' the statement read. 'The international community must act decisively to ensure justice for Hind Rajab and countless others like her.' Hind's Legacy The Hind Rajab Foundation continues to honor her memory through advocacy and education initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the plight of Palestinian children living under occupation. Their work underscores the urgent need for accountability and systemic change to prevent future tragedies. As Hind's final words echo in the minds of those fighting for justice—'I'm so scared… please come'—her story serves as both a reminder of the horrors endured by innocent civilians in Gaza and a rallying cry for humanity to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable. Shortlink for this post:
The National
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Keir Starmer denies blocking arrest warrant for Gideon Sa'ar
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar visited London last week, where he met with Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The meeting went unannounced and was largely unreported in the media, save for The National, the Middle East Eye and the Guardian. During his time in the UK, a request for an arrest warrant for Sa'ar was submitted to Westminster Magistrate Court by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Hind Rajab Foundation. (Image: Aris Messinis / AFP) Sa'ar was accused of aiding and abetting torture and grave breaches of international humanitarian law in Palestine including torture, wilful killing and extensive destruction of property. He is already the subject of a complaint by the Hind Rajab Foundation to the International Criminal Court alleging his involvement in decisions that led to mass civilian displacement and siege conditions in Gaza and his support for policies that targeted civilian infrastructure. READ MORE: BBC quietly edits false report hiding Israel minister's UK visit The request was ultimately denied by the Attorney General because "international law requires that immunity is accorded to serving ministers for foreign affairs in domestic criminal proceedings irrespective of the subject matter, or gravity, of any complaint." It was later revealed that Lammy had personally offered Sa'ar reassurances that he would not would not face an arrest warrant while on a secret visit, leading to accusation that the UK Government was "shielding" Sa'ar. However, during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Starmer was asked why he "block[ed] the arrest of an unindicted war criminal". Keir Starmer is challenged on Israeli minister Gideon Sa'ar visiting the UK last week by Labour MP @zarahsultana He denies blocking campaigners' attempts to secure an arrest warrant for the politician. — The National (@ScotNational) April 23, 2025 Labour MP Zarah Sultana, one of the few MPs to speak out against the visit, said: "Last week humanitarian law organisations applied for an arrest warrant for Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar over alleged war crimes in Gaza, including the siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital and the torture of its director Dr Hussam Abu Safiyeh. "Yet the red carpet was rolled out. READ MORE: Israeli police officers aimed guns at two British MPs in West Bank "Sa'ar has justified blocking vital humanitarian aid into Gaza, backed the illegal annexation of Palestinian land and rejected a Palestinian state. "The Prime Minister is a human rights lawyer, so surely he knows that the UK has a legal duty to uphold international law. "Why then did he block the arrest of an unindicted war criminal?" Starmer simply replied: "I didn't." The Foreign Office has still not issued an official statement on Sa'ar's meeting with Lammy.
