22 November 2016, The Hague: Today, Palestinian human rights groups urged the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to examine the Israeli closure of the Gaza Strip, which has denied two million Palestinians a panoply of fundamental rights for nearly a decade, as the crime against humanity of persecution under the Rome Statute. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Al-Haq, and Addameer submitted a 145-page file to the ICC Prosecutor setting out the factual and legal basis for the case. 

Coinciding with the UN-declared International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, Al-Haq has introduced a new campaign “Facts on the Ground”. This campaign exposes specific ways Israel’s exploitation of natural resources in Palestine perpetuates and sustains the illegal occupation. The campaign highlights how the Israeli occupying forces have taken control of the water, land, gas and oil reserves, quarries and Dead Sea minerals, allowing it to sustain and expand the settlements, internationally recognized and condemned as illegal. To pressure Israel and complicit corporations to stop exploiting natural resources which rightfully belong in the hands of the Palestinian people, Al-Haq calls for international, national and local sanctions that target individuals and companies involved in illegal activity, or forms of trade that support illegal activity.

Al-Haq announces the launch of its new campaign, “Facts on the Ground.” The campaign highlights Israel’s exploitation of Palestinian natural resources and the resultant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. “Facts on the Ground” brings together past reports and virtual field visits by Al-Haq on water, natural gas, oil, Dead Sea minerals, and land.

In June 2016, it was made public that Mr. Lodewijk Asscher, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, intentionally provides for the payment of Dutch full age pension (AOW pension) to settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in violation of Dutch legislation. Today, on 29 September 2016, a criminal offense committed by Minister Asscher was reported to the Chairwoman of the Dutch House of Representatives on behalf of Mr. F.L van Vliet, Mr. S van Houcke, Mrs. M.H.A. Remmers and the foundation Article 1 Collective.