Raid on Ramallah's St. Andrew's Church in Israeli clampdown on Palestinian NGOs

Yesterday the army attacked the Anglican compound "without warning" and in an "unjustified" manner. The military's target was the offices of al-Haq, an organization that fights for the rights of Palestinians, especially political prisoners. The larger operation also involved five other ngos in the West Bank. 

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - The "unannounced and unjustified" attack on St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Ramallah, West Bank, was part of a larger operation against Palestinian ngos and activist movements in the territory. In the early hours of yesterday, Israeli security forces broke into the premises, breaking locks and smashing the security glass. Local witnesses report that for more than two hours the military occupied the compound, which includes the sanctuary, parish hall, church offices, rectory and the medical center run by the Episcopalian church. 

Rev. Fadi Diab, rector of St. Andrew's, says soldiers "occupied the entire complex" causing substantial damage to the structure. Attacks on places of worship and devastation of church property, he adds, "violate international law and throw an entire community" that operates peacefully into terror. 

Those living inside the compound in Ramallah experienced a condition of "profound insecurity" throughout the assault. The sound of gunfire, stun grenades and the crashing of doors caused "terror" among families in the area. Although there was no justification behind the raid, and the assault on the church premises, Israeli security forces tried to justify the operation by stressing that the target was al-Haq, one of the most prominent pro-human rights groups in the West Bank. Indeed, the St. Andrew's compound rents an office to the group, but it benefits from a completely separate entrance from the place of worship. 

The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, led by the Rev. Hosam E. Naoum has condemned an attack on "a holy place" and "devastation of Church property." In these hours, the raided NGO al-Haq itself, the target of the raid, also released a note describing the manner of the attack, the damage caused and the threats made by Israeli forces. At the same time, the activists stressed that they will not be intimidated and that they intend to continue in their work in defense of Palestinian rights, particularly political prisoners, calling on the Israeli authorities to revoke the "terrorist" designation for the group. 

The assault on al-Haq's headquarters, and by extension on the Anglican compound, is part of a larger operation conducted in recent hours by Israeli authorities against activist groups and ngos fighting for Palestinian rights. Similar incidents have occurred in the past and are linked to very specific directives promoted by the current governments: in the past that of Benjamin Netanyahu, which passed a controversial law on funding sources, and today by the executive led by Yair Lapid (and Defense Minister Benny Gantz).

Also yesterday, in fact, the army raided the offices of six ngos all located in Ramallah, afflicting a permanent closure order. In addition to al-Haq are the other ngos declared "terrorist organizations" in 2021: Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees. According to the order, "illegal activities" were being carried out inside the offices, although no actual evidence of wrongdoing or violence has surfaced in recent months.

• Israel
• Palestine
• Ramallah
• church
• religious freedom
• Jews
• Christians
• army
• ngos
• human rights