The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary detention of Mr. Mahmoud Nawajaa, General Coordinator of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee (BNC), a broad Palestinian civil society coalition that leads the global BDS movement. BDS is an international movement which promotes a non-violent mobilisation to end Israel’s 1967 occupation, end its system of racial discrimination and uphold the UN-stipulated right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes[1].
According to the information received, on July 30, 2020, in the middle of the night, Mr. Mahmoud Nawajaa was arrested at his home near Ramallah, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, by tens of Israeli soldiers who stormed his house, handcuffed and blindfolded him before taking him to the interrogation centre of Al-Jalama prison, where he is still detained. His laptop and cellphone as well as his wife’s were confiscated during the raid. His arrest is believed to be a retaliation for his peaceful work with BDS against the alleged Israeli illegal annexation plan, which is illegal and would have “a disastrous impact on human rights” throughout the Middle East according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet[2].
On August 2, 2020, Mr. Nawajaa attended a hearing in an Israeli military court near Jenin held via videoconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The court ordered an additional 15-day detention, although no evidence or charges were presented at the hearing.
On August 4, 2020, after an appeal submitted by the NGO Addameer[3], the court reduced his detention to eight days. However, it was extended again for another eight days on August 9, 2020. Following the submission of another appeal, the NGO reached an agreement with the head of the interrogation team in Al-Jalama detention centre to reduce Mr. Nawajaa’s detention until August 13, 2020.
Furthermore, Mr. Nawajaa was denied his right to have access to a lawyer for eleven days. After a petition filed by Addameer to the Israeli High Court, the authorities finally lifted the ban to access a lawyer on August 10, 2020.
The Observatory expresses its utmost concern about the arbitrary detention of Mr. Nawajaa which seems to be only aimed at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities.
The Observatory urges the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Mahmoud Nawajaa and put an end to all forms of harassment, including at the judicial level, against him.
How You Can Help
Please write to your respective governments demanding that they apply effective pressure on the authorities of Israel to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Mr. Mahmoud Nawajaa and all other human rights defenders in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Mahmoud Nawajaa, as well as all human rights defenders arbitrarily detained in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
iii. Put an end to all acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Mahmoud Nawajaa and all other human rights defenders in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
iv. Comply with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular its Articles 1, 5 and 12.2;
v. More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in accordance with international human rights instruments, including the right to advocate for peaceful campaigns for Palestinian rights, which the European Court of Human Rights recently considered as protected freedom of expression.
Addresses
Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel; Email: b.netanyahu@pmo.gov.il, pm_eng@pmo.gov.il, Twitter: @netanyahu
Mr. Benny Gantz, Minister of Defense; Email: bgantz@knesset.gov.il
Mr. Gabi Ashkenazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Email: sar@mfa.gov.il, gashkenazy@knesset.gov.il
Mr. Avi Nissenkorn; Minister of Justice; E-mail: sar@justice.gov.il, anissenkorn@knesset.gov.il
Mr. Avichai Mandelblit, State Attorney; Email: state-attorney@justice.gov.il
H.E. Ambassador Ms. Aviva Raz Shechter, Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Email: mission-israel@geneva.mfa.gov.il
H.E. Ambassador Simona Frankel; Embassy of Israel in Belgium and Luxembourg; Email: web@brussels.mfa.gov.il
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Israel in your respective countries.
