Palestinians launch national observatory to document Israeli violations

The Palestinians launched the National Observatory for Documenting Israeli Violations of international law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights on Wednesday, aiming to unify efforts to document alleged Israeli violations and strengthen accountability cases before international courts and legal mechanisms.

The observatory was launched during a ceremony organised by the Human Rights and Civil Society Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at the Ramallah Municipality Theatre. The event was attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, members of the PLO Executive Committee and Fatah Central Committee, ministers, governors, ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, human rights organisations and civil society representatives.

Speaking on behalf of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mustafa said: “The occupation may be able to destroy a building, confiscate land or try to conceal a crime, but it will not be able to erase the truth when it becomes part of an organised institutional effort. Nor will it be able to erase the national memory when our institutions preserve and document it in line with the highest professional and legal standards.”