Al-Haq: Ban on Jabarin's travel is an attempt to silence human rights work

Israeli authorities prevented the director general of Al-Haq, Shawan Jabarin, from traveling to Jordan via the Karameh crossing. The organization considered the decision to target his human rights work and documentation of Israeli violations. Jabarin said the ban was issued by the Shin Bet under the pretext of "security reasons," and coincided with his preparations to participate in the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court.

On Friday, Israeli authorities prevented the director general of the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq, Shawan Jabarin, from traveling to Jordan via the Karameh crossing. The organization stated that the decision targets his human rights work and his efforts to document Israeli violations and hold those responsible accountable before the International Criminal Court. In a statement, Al-Haq reported that Israeli security personnel stopped Jabarin at the crossing, inquired about the purpose of his travel, and then informed him of a ban preventing him from leaving the West Bank. Jabarin said security officers verbally informed him that the ban was issued by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) under the pretext of "security reasons," noting that the decision coincided with his preparations to attend the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court scheduled for late November. Jabarin considered these measures aimed at occupying human rights workers with defending themselves instead of continuing their efforts to hold those responsible for violations accountable. Al-Haq stated that the travel ban is part of a series of measures and threats faced by its director general due to his human rights work, noting that he is one of the arbitrators at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The organization recalled that Jabarin faced threats from the Shin Bet in 2022, and a previous travel ban that lasted six years between 2006 and 2012. Al-Haq linked the decision to the pressures imposed on Palestinian human rights organizations.