Ramallah – 12/12/2012

The Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Palestine strongly condemned the raid on the headquarters of the Palestinian NGO Network, Al Dameer organization and the Union of Women's Committees in the city of Ramallah yesterday morning by the Israeli occupation forces. Computers and documents were confiscated in addition to wreaking havoc throughout the raid.

This attack on the headquarters of civil society institutions comes just a day after the world celebrated the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, reaffirming that the state of occupation cares not about humanitarian conventions and international laws, but behaves as a state above international law.

The raid on the headquarters of Palestinian NGOs providing services to a large segment of Palestinian society must send a clear warning signal to the international community. A serious and concerted stand must be taken against Israeli practices and continued violations of the rights of the Palestinian people. Such rights are guaranteed by international conventions, especially in the wake of Palestine’s recent elevation to non-member state recognition at the United Nations.

The Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Palestine includes 24 media, human rights and women and youth organizations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It was founded in February 2011.