Six Palestinian civil society groups and human rights organizations operating in the West Bank have filed objections on Thursday to Israeli judicial authorities after being designated as “terrorist organizations.”
The groups said the order declaring them “unlawful associations,” issued by the head of the Israeli military’s Central Command, Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, was carried out without “due process.”
They pointed out that much of the evidence against them was based on classified intelligence and could not be revealed.
Thursday’s action was the first formal legal move within the Israeli system to reverse the decision.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz declared them as “terror organizations” in October, saying that they had effectively operated as an arm for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
The PFLP is a left-wing movement with a political party, as well as an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis.
“All six constitute a network of organizations active undercover on the international front on behalf of the PFLP to support its activity and further its goals,” a defense ministry statement read.
The statement accused the groups of masquerading as civil society organizations when it said they were in fact controlled by the PFLP and implemented many PFLP activists.
The groups amounted to fundraising entities for the PFLP, mainly through receiving donations from European countries and international organizations, it added.
The groups are al-Haq, Defense of Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Addameer, the Bisan Center, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
They had previously called for international support to reverse the decision, which has the potential to compromise their ability to carry out humanitarian work.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian factions and institutions, the United States and European countries rejected the decision, pressuring Israel to explain decision.
