NGO Monitor Press Release
November 25, 2015
Contact: Lena Bakman
054-430-1861
Aaron Kalman
054-599-1490
communications@ngo-monitor.org

European Funding for Palestinian NGO Submission to the International
Criminal Court on Alleged Israeli War Crimes during 2014 Gaza operation

On, November 23, 2015 four European funded Palestinian NGOs, Al-Haq,
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Aldameer and the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights (PCHR) submitted a document to Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of
the International Criminal Court (ICC) claiming evidence and testimonies of
alleged Israeli "war crimes" perpetrated during the 2014 Gaza war (Operation
Protective Edge).

As an example of alleged Israeli "war crimes and crimes against humanity,"
the press release accompanying the NGO submission highlighted the testimony
of 57-year-old Bouthaineh Al Louh from Deir Al-Balah in the Gaza Strip,
regarding an incident in which allegedly "Israel attacked our home in Deir
al Balah whilst my family was fast asleep." Al-Mezan and PCHR have each
separately documented this incident stating that
"seven people were killed." An additional family member died later of her
wounds. The NGOs make no mention of military activity in the area, nor do
they acknowledge the presence of combatants.

A cursory examination of this case shows that it is based on distortions and
half-truths. A month after the incident, Mohammed Mustafa al-Louh (killed in
the strike), was acknowledged by Hamas as a "martyr" and released a poster
of him as a combatant, burying him wearing a Hamas headband.

Al Haq's director Shawan Jabarin, who personally submitted the document to
the ICC prosecutor, has been accused of being a member of the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group, and has been denied
travel visas by both Jordan and Israel. He has been described by the Israeli
Supreme Court as "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," human rights activist on the one
hand, and terrorist activist on the other. Al-Haq has also recently been
accused of "corruption"
leading the NGO to request the Palestinian Authority audit its books to
clear it of suspicion. This investigation is still pending.

These four NGOs are all leaders in anti-Israel activities (including
boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns), and this submission is part of
the ongoing "lawfare" campaign exploiting international institutions in
general and the ICC in particular for anti-Israel campaigns. This tactic was
adopted at the NGO Forum of the 2001 Durban Conference, and is an integral
part of the Durban Strategy which seeks to demonize and delegitimize Israel.

The "lawfare" campaigns of these NGOs seek to erase the context of
Palestinian terrorism targeting Israeli civilians and to obstruct Israeli
attempts at defending against it.

Three of these NGOs are responsible for attempts to have Israeli officials,
including Tzipi Livni, arrested in Europe for alleged "war crimes",
prompting the British and Spanish governments to amend their laws. Al Haq
and PCHR have also filed several civil lawsuits in the UK, Canada, and the
US against Israeli officials, the British government, and foreign companies,
aimed at advancing BDS. All of these cases have been dismissed by the courts
at the preliminary stages.

Al Haq, al-Mezan, PCHR and Aldameer all receive extensive direct and
indirect funding from European governments. These governments irresponsibly
fund and enable political campaigns with the sole purpose of demonizing
Israel under a façade of human rights.

Al-Haq - "2014's Partners" include: Bread for the World (Germany), Irish
Aid(Ireland), Christian Aid (UK), Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Diakonia (Sweden), Federal Government of Belgium, Heinrich Boll
Stiftung(Germany), ICCO (Netherlands), AECID (Spain),Human Rights and
International Law Secretariat(joint government funding of Sweden
Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands), UNDP, and Open Society Institute
(US).

Al-Mezan - Donors include: Human Rights and International Law Secretariat
(joint funding from Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands),
Norway, Medico International(Germany), Save the Children International, and
theOpen Society Foundations. "Project Donors" include:EU, Human Rights and
International Law Secretariat,Diakonia (Sweden), Heinrich Boll
Foundation(Germany), Norwegian Refugee Council, Sigrid Rausing Trust (UK),
Oxfam- GB, Save the Children,Open Society Foundation, UNDP, and the UN
Central Emergency Response Fund.

Aldameer - Human Rights and International Law Secretariat (joint funding
from Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands). Further funding
information is unavailable.

PCHR - Donors include: the European Union, UN OCHA;, Ireland; Denmark, and
Norway; NGO Development Center (joint funding from the governments of
Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark); Open Society Foundations (US),
Christian Aid(UK), Grassroots International (US), Kvina Till Kvina (Sweden),
Al-Quds Association Malaga (Spain), Oxfam Novib (Netherlands), and
DanChurchAid (Denmark).

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NGO Monitor, an independent research institution, was founded in 2002 in the
wake of the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. At this
conference, 1,500 NGOs formulated the "Durban Strategy" which aims to
isolate Israel through measures such as boycott, divestment and sanctions
(BDS) campaigns, lawfare, delegitimization and demonization.

NGO Monitor (www.ngo-monitor.org), is the leading source of expertise on the
activities and funding of political advocacy NGOs involved in the
Arab-Israeli conflict. NGO Monitor provides detailed and fully sourced
information and analysis, promotes accountability, and supports discussion
on the reports and activities of NGOs (non-governmental organizations)
claiming to advance human rights and humanitarian agendas.
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