The Israeli forces raided the headquarters of Palestinian civil institutions and confiscated their contents after a decision was issued to classify them as terrorist organizations. This coincided with the outbreak of violent confrontations between the occupation forces and Palestinian youths, which resulted in the death of a young man and dozens of injuries.
On Thursday, an Israeli military force stormed the headquarters of 7 Palestinian non-governmental organizations in the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh (central), confiscated their contents and issued a "new" decision to close them.
Last year, the Israeli authorities decided to close 6 of these institutions, claiming that they were "terrorist organizations".
The seven organizations that were subjected to the raids and closures are: Addameer for Prisoner Care and Human Rights, Law for Human Rights (Al-Haq), Bisan Center for Research and Development, Union of Women’s Committees, Health Work Committees Foundation, Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and Defense for Children International-Palestine. .
The name of the "Health Work Committees" institution was not included in the Israeli list issued last year.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli force raided the headquarters of the seven institutions and confiscated files and computers and destroyed their contents, according to Anadolu Agency.
Witnesses indicated that the Israeli soldiers suspended a military order to close these institutions, claiming that they were "terrorist".
Witnesses indicated that clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinians and the Israeli army during its raid on the seven institutions, during which the latter used live and metal bullets, and tear gas canisters.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (non-governmental) said in a statement that its teams dealt with the injury of 34 Palestinians in those confrontations, including one injury with live bullets, and 33 cases of suffocation due to tear gas inhalation.
On October 19, 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued an order to close 6 institutions (which were raided Thursday, except for the Health Work Committees Foundation) on the grounds that they are "terrorist" and are affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Last year, the Israeli army raided the six institutions covered by the decision, arrested a number of their employees and closed them, but it insisted on continuing to operate.
At the time, European countries stopped working with those six institutions included in the resolution, but they returned on July 11, and announced that they would continue to work with them because there was insufficient evidence against the Israeli claim.
The European countries are: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
Those countries said in a statement: "Accusations of terrorism or links to terrorist groups must be taken as seriously as possible, without any exceptions. Therefore, it was essential that we examine these classifications carefully and in an in-depth manner."
The countries added that they had not received any "substantive evidence" from Tel Aviv to justify closing the institutions.
And the European countries continued: "If there is evidence to the contrary, we will act on this basis. In the absence of such evidence, we will continue our cooperation and strong support for civil society."