Charities, trade unions, religious groups, and civil society organisations speak out against Israel’s plans to annex Palestinian land. A joint statement.
Charities, trade unions, religious groups, and civil society organisations speak out against Israel’s plans to annex Palestinian land.
Over 20 organisations have released a statement against Israel’s continued plans to formally annex up to 30% of West Bank.
This statement comes as United Arab Emirates reach a deal to normalise relations with Israel, but the Israeli Prime Minister insists annexation will go ahead. Signatories include the Archbishop of Wales, Amos Trust, UNISON, Unite the Union, GMB, National Education Union, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and War on Want.
Above: Two Israeli soldiers looking out over the Gaza Strip at sunset.
The statement echoes UN Special Rapporteur Professor Michael Lynk’s calls for consequences for Israel’s defiance of international law. Regardless of formal annexation, continued Israeli settlement expansion and seizure of Palestinian land creates facts on the ground that amounts to de facto annexation.
The statement urgently calls on public bodies to “uphold their ethical and legal responsibilities to ensure human rights and international law are respected” as a direct response to Israel’s plans to illegally annex Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Over 20 organisations have released a statement against Israel’s continued plans to formally annex up to 30% of West Bank. This statement comes as United Arab Emirates reach a deal to normalise relations with Israel, but the Israeli Prime Minister insists annexation will go ahead.
The groups are demanding accountability and responsibility, stating that the Israeli Government’s plans are “not only an attack on the rights and futures of Palestinians, but also against the very foundations of international law.”
The Israeli Government has said that it intends to annex large swathes of Palestinian land in the West Bank, which was militarily occupied in 1967. This would be the culmination of years of appropriation of land — through the forced displacement of Palestinians, settlement and the annexation of East Jerusalem. Annexation, illegal under international law, is the forcible and unilateral acquisition of territory over which it has no recognised sovereignty and to make it an integral part of the state — in this case, Israel.
UK charities, trade unions, religious groups, and civil society organisations speak out against Israel’s plans to annex Palestinian land.
UN Special Rapporteur Professor Michael Lynk in a recent report recommended that the international community “take all measures, including countermeasures and sanctions, necessary to ensure the respect by Israel of its duty under international law to end the occupation.” This mirrors the global call from Palestinian civil society for ‘effective measures’ to be taken to stop this annexation happening.
The Israeli Government has said that it intends to annex large swathes of Palestinian land in the West Bank, which was militarily occupied in 1967.
Recent commentary around the UAE-Israel deal brokered by Donald Trump has misleadingly suggested a roll-back of Israel’s intention to annex Palestinian land, rather than a temporary delay. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared immediately after the deal was announced: “There is no change to my plan to extend sovereignty, our sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, in full coordination with the United States.”
Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign said:
“As the United Arab Emirates moves to normalise relations with Israel, and with Donald Trump in the White House — it is more imperative than ever for the international community to send a clear message that Israel will be held accountable for its annexation plans and other continued human rights abuses. We must come together in standing up for international law.”
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary said:
“The annexation of Palestinian land is a gross violation of international law. Governments, businesses and public bodies all have a responsibility to ensure that none of their purchasing, procurement or investment decisions contribute to the occupation or the violation of Palestinian human rights.”
The statement and a full list of signatories can be viewed here.
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This statement has been endorsed by the following:
Amos has partnered with Al Ahli Baptist Hospital for over 30 years. On 17th October 2023, its diagnostic unit was hit by a shell in the first days of the war. Then on 17th October, Al Ahli was the first hospital in Gaza to be hit by a rocket. Read our blog post about the hospital one year on.
The UK is failing to stand up for international law, as Israeli forces are forcibly transferring civilians from northern Gaza to the south and relentlessly bombarding the area, making it uninhabitable and stripping away the essential conditions that sustain life. Read the full statement from 15 organisations.
In the future, the ‘7th October’ will hold a place of particular significance. For Israel, it will be remembered because of the loss of 1,200 lives, the brutality of the Hamas attack and the fate of 251 hostages. For Palestinians, and those who have watched the events of the last year unfold, it will be remembered for the destruction and hatred unleashed on Gaza that has left 40,000 dead, 10,000 missing, 100,000 injured, 2 million displaced and so much destruction.
On 17th October, 2023, we received the devastating news of a strike on our partner, Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which tragically claimed hundreds of lives. Remarkably, the hospital reopened the next day to continue treating patients. Read our update on the current situation.
Our partner, NECC/DSPR Gaza, began providing post-traumatic psychotherapeutic support following the 2008 Gaza conflict to children (and their mothers) and young people involved in their youth training programme. Initially considered a temporary programme, they soon realised that in Gaza, trauma is an ongoing condition, leading to the continuous provision of their psychosocial support programmes since then. Read more.
Amos Trust
7 Bell Yard, London
WC2A 2JR
UK
Telephone:
+44 (0) 203 725 3493
Email:
[email protected]
Registered Charity No.
1164234
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