The Israeli occupation attacks the headquarters of UAWC and six other organizations and steals and destroys their contents

The Israeli occupation attacks the headquarters of UAWC and six other organizations and steals and destroys their contents

The Israeli
occupation attacks the headquarters of UAWC and six other organizations and
steals and destroys their contents

18 August 2022

The storming and vandalization of the offices
of seven Palestinian NGOs, including the headquarters of the Union of
Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the theft of our materials and office
equipment, constitute blatant acts of Israeli aggression and of a dangerous
escalation, targeting Palestinian human rights organizations in an attempt to
forcefully silence us and prevent us from working.

We call on the international community to stand
up to its responsibility and to protect the seven targeted organizations by
forcing the Israeli government to stop its aggression and reverse its illegitimate
criminalization of these organizations, including UAWC.

Today’s attack on our offices confirms that the
Union’s support to vulnerable farming communities in Area C hinders the Israeli
government in entrenching its illegal occupation and annexation of the West
Bank. We urge our friends and partners around the world to loudly condemn this
aggression and raise their voices in solidarity with UAWC and Palestinian civil
society at large.

In particular, we call on the European Union
and its member states to take immediate action in order to protect Palestinian
human rights organizations and their board and staff members in an effective
and decisive manner. Beyond our organizations, this is a defining moment for
the international community to protect the fundamental right of the
Palestinians to live in peace, freedom and dignity on their land.