{"id":319513,"date":"2026-07-17T11:01:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=319513"},"modified":"2026-07-17T13:09:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T17:09:15","slug":"ngo-action-news-16-july-2026","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-16-july-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"NGO Action News &#8211; 16 July 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat provide the information \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Middle East<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 14 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/peacenow.org.il\/en\/government-signs-umbrella-agreement-with-the-samaria-regional-council-committing-nis-8-5-billion-for-settlement-infrastructure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peace Now<\/a> reported that the Israeli Government had signed an umbrella agreement committing approximately NIS 8.5 billion for Israeli settlements infrastructure, such as roads and public services, in northern West Bank. According to the organization, the agreement would support the continued development of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.<\/li>\n<li>On 13 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/pchrgaza.org\/israel-continues-to-use-thirst-as-weapon-against-gazas-population-and-deny-them-access-to-safe-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)<\/a> warned of the worsening water crisis in the Gaza Strip, driven by Israeli restrictions on the entry of fuel, equipment, and maintenance materials needed to rehabilitate and operate water facilities. The organization called for access to safe water and other essential services in accordance with international humanitarian law.<\/li>\n<li>On 13 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/pchrgaza.org\/israels-escalating-attacks-in-gaza-reflect-consistent-pattern-of-genocide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)<\/a> published a press release entitled &#8220;Israel&#8217;s Escalating Attacks in Gaza Reflect Consistent Pattern of Genocide.&#8221; PCHR stated that recent Israeli military operations, including aerial bombardments and attacks on civilian gatherings, displacement tents and vehicles, formed part of what it described as a continuing pattern of violations against the civilian population in Gaza. The organization called for urgent international action to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access and advance accountability under international law.<\/li>\n<li>On 8 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/gisha.org\/en\/new-report-abuse-of-the-dead-eng\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gisha \u2013 Legal Center for Freedom of Movement<\/a> released a report indicating that Israel continues to hold the bodies of more than 100 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, who died in Israeli custody. The report reviews the legal proceedings of three cases relating to Gaza residents who died in detention, exposing authorities\u2019 \u201cfailures\u201d such providing families with partial incorrect, and misleading information, prolonged delays in investigations and admission of impossibility to locate the bodies.<\/li>\n<li>On 6 July, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mezan.org\/public\/en\/post\/46872\/Following-the-Israeli-Knesset%27s-Failure-to-Pass-the-Bill-Banning-ICRC-Visits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Mezan Center for Human Rights<\/a> stated that the Knesset had failed to adopt legislation seeking to prohibit the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting to Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. The organization called, inter alia, for the ICRC to be granted immediate and unhindered access to all Palestinian detainees and the full respect of the ICRC mandate.<\/li>\n<li>On 6 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/peacenow.org.il\/en\/annus-mirabilis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peace Now<\/a> published a report entitled \u201cAnnus Mirabilis \u2013 Actions by the Israeli Government to Annex the West Bank, 2023-2025\u201d. The report documents the measures advanced by the Israeli Government, which demonstrates how these measures form a single, systematic government policy aiming to deepen Israeli control over the West Bank and advance <em>de facto <\/em>annexation, according to Peace Now.<\/li>\n<li>On 3 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/pchrgaza.org\/one-thousand-days-of-genocide-in-the-gaza-strip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)<\/a> marked one thousand days since 7 October 2023 and the beginning of what PCHR defines a \u201cgenocidal campaign\u201d in Gaza. The organization reiterated its call on the international community to take urgent and decisive action to prevent genocide and other international crimes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Africa, Asia and Europe<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 16 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/policy-practice.oxfam.org\/resources\/policy-practice-oxfam-org-resources-seven-ways-the-water-crisis-in-gaza-is-hurting-women-621841\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oxfam<\/a> published a briefing note entitled &#8220;Seven Ways the Water Crisis in Gaza is Hurting Women.&#8221; The publication examines the disproportionate impact of water shortages and the collapse of water and sanitation services on women and girls in Gaza. It concludes with recommendations about support for gender-responsive, rights-based WASH recovery, and safe and equitable access to water and sanitation.<\/li>\n<li>On 13 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2026\/07\/consistent-failure-to-suspend-association-agreement-should-spur-unilateral-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a> criticized the European Union&#8217;s (EU) failure to suspend the EU &#8211; Israel Association Agreement. The organization stated that \u201cif\u00a0the EU will not act together, member states must act individually and unilaterally suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its grave violations of international law, including by imposing a comprehensive embargo on the export of arms and surveillance equipment and related technology, and a total ban on trade with and investment in Israel\u2019s illegal settlements\u201d in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/li>\n<li>On 8 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eccpalestine.org\/call-to-act-for-real-sanctions-on-israel-ahead-of-the-fac-meeting-on-july-13\/\">European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP)<\/a> urged the EU Foreign Affairs Council to adopt sanctions and review EU relations with Israel ahead of the Council\u2019s 13 July meeting.<\/li>\n<li>On 8 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savethechildren.net\/news\/save-children-airstrike-gaza-tent-marks-fourth-palestinian-child-killed-six-days-israeli\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Save the Children<\/a> expressed alarm over reports that four Palestinian children had been killed and several others injured by Israeli forces over the preceding six days, including a 10-year-old child killed in an airstrike while he was in a tent in Gaza. The organization called for urgent international intervention and reiterated that children must be protected during armed conflict in accordance with international law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>North America<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 10 July, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2026\/07\/10\/unrwa-is-irreplaceable-in-gaza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Human Rights Watch (HRW)<\/a> published a statement entitled &#8220;Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA is Irreplaceable in Gaza&#8221;, emphasizing that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA) \u201cremains the backbone of humanitarian aid in Gaza\u201d. HRW stated that Member States should continue to fund and support Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA and protect its mandate. The statement reflected concerns also raised during the reporting period by <a href=\"https:\/\/badil.org\/press-releases\/16914.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights and the Global Palestine Refugee Network (GPRN)<\/a> regarding proposals affecting Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA&#8217;s mandate and role.<\/li>\n<li>On 9 July, the <a href=\"https:\/\/fmep.org\/resource\/settlement-annexation-report-july-9-2026\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP)<\/a> published its Settlement &amp; Annexation Report, reviewing recent developments relating to Israeli settlements and annexation in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The report lists government decisions, settlement expansion, planning initiatives and recent analyses by Israeli and Palestinian organizations concerning developments affecting Palestinian communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>United Nations<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 13 July, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/un-deputy-special-coordinator-condemns-obstruction-of-humanitarian-operations-in-gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory,<\/a> Ramiz Alakbarov, issued a statement condemning the \u201cobstruction of humanitarian operations in Gaza by the de facto authorities which endangered humanitarian personnel, intimidated workers delivering lifesaving food assistance and disrupted life-saving humanitarian operations\u201d. He called for the protection of humanitarian workers and unimpeded delivery of lifesaving assistance.<\/li>\n<li>On 10 July, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ocha-aid-response-constrained-by-insecurity-access-restrictions-underfunding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)<\/a> reported that humanitarian operations across the Occupied Palestinian Territory continued to be constrained by insecurity, movement and access restrictions, and funding shortfalls. In Gaza, OCHA reports that communicable diseases remain widespread and humanitarian response addressed emerging needs due to incidents such as airstrikes, new displacement, as well as fires in shelters and sewage flooding. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli military operations, expanding movement restrictions, demolitions, settlement expansion and settler violence continue. OCHA further shared that just over a quarter of the USD 4.1 billion required for humanitarian operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory this year has been received.<\/li>\n<li>On 8 July, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/press-releases\/2026\/07\/israel-must-release-dr-hussam-abu-safiya-and-all-palestinian-medical\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Territory Palestinian, including East Jerusalem, and Israel<\/a> called on Israel to immediately release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and all Palestinian medical personnel arbitrarily detained in Israeli custody, further calling to provide Dr. Abu Safiya with immediate independent medical care. The Commission also observed that the reported conduct of the Israeli authorities towards Dr. Abu Safiya reflects a broader pattern of violations previously identified in the Commission\u2019s reports. Similar calls during the reporting period were issued by several human rights organizations, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2026\/07\/israel-opt-fears-mounting-for-arbitrarily-detained-palestinian-doctor-hussam-abu-safiya-amidst-reports-his-life-is-in-grave-danger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phr.org.il\/en\/save-dr-abu-safiya\/?pr=23000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Physicians for Human Rights\u2013Israel (PHRI)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eccpalestine.org\/call-to-action-free-dr-husaam-abu-safiya\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat provide the information \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-16-july-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[6640],"document-source":[5539,2541,3377,6815,1753,2173,6407,6659,6656,2749,2169,3385,3325,6705,4678,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1829,2005,1741,5362,1745,6866,6251],"entity":[2077,1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-319513","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-ngo-action-news","document-source-al-mezan-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-amnesty-international","document-source-badil-resource-center-for-palestinian-residency-and-refugee-rights","document-source-commission-of-inquiry-on-the-occupied-palestinian-territory","document-source-ceirpp","document-source-division-for-palestinian-rights-dpr","document-source-european-coordination-of-committee-and-associations-for-palestine","document-source-foundation-for-middle-east-peace-fmep","document-source-gisha-legal-centre-for-freedom-movement-ngo","document-source-human-rights-watch","document-source-office-for-the-coordination-of-humanitarian-affairs-ocha","document-source-oxfam-international","document-source-palestinian-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-physicians-for-human-rights","document-source-save-the-children","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-unsco","document-subject-casualties","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-ngo-civil-society","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","document-subject-settler-violence","document-subject-west-bank","entity-non-governmental-organization","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/319513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/319513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":319537,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/319513\/revisions\/319537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=319513"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=319513"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=319513"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=319513"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=319513"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=319513"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=319513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}