{"id":319998,"date":"2026-08-28T10:42:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T14:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=319998"},"modified":"2026-08-28T10:42:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T14:42:40","slug":"ngo-action-news-27-august-2026","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-27-august-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"NGO Action News &#8211; 27 August 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-319883\" src=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-scaled.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-scaled.png\" alt=\"NGO Action News banner for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Division for Palestinian Rights\" width=\"2560\" height=\"925\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%27925%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%20925%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%27925%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-200x72.png 200w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-300x108.png 300w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-400x145.png 400w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-600x217.png 600w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-800x289.png 800w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-1024x370.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-1200x434.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-1536x555.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Banner-NGO-AN-scaled.png 2560w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat provide the information \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Middle East<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 26 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mezan.org\/public\/en\/post\/46890\/Catastrophic-Collapse-of-Health-Conditions-in-the-Gaza-Strip\">Al Mezan<\/a> reported on a workshop examining the severe deterioration of Gaza\u2019s health sector. Participants highlighted the destruction of hospitals and health infrastructure, restrictions on humanitarian aid, shortages of medicine and fuel, and barriers to patient movement. Speakers warned that these conditions had created a deepening humanitarian and public health crisis affecting thousands of patients. Al Mezan emphasized the need for accountability and international action to address the collapse of healthcare services.<\/li>\n<li>On 24 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/pchrgaza.org\/e1-settlement-project-moves-into-implementation-stage-requiring-urgent-and-binding-international-action-to-stop-it\/\">PCHR<\/a> reported that the Israeli authorities had advanced the E1 settlement project into the implementation phase by opening a tender for 1,234 housing units. The organization argued that the move would deepen settlement expansion, threaten the displacement of Palestinian communities, fragment the West Bank, and further isolate East Jerusalem. PCHR called on the international community to take binding measures to halt the project, ensure accountability, and prevent companies from participating in settlement activities.<\/li>\n<li>On 19 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/peacenow.org.il\/en\/e1-tender-published-and-open-for-bidding\">Peace Now<\/a> reported that Israel\u2019s Ministry of Housing had opened a tender for 1,234 housing units in the E1 area east of Jerusalem. The organization argued that the move was politically motivated and could create irreversible facts on the ground before national elections. Peace Now noted that legal challenges against the project were still pending and warned that construction in E1 would further separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank and undermine prospects for a two-state solution.<\/li>\n<li>On 18 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adalah.org\/en\/content\/view\/11683\">Adalah<\/a> announced that it had withdrawn a petition challenging Israeli laws targeting Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA after Supreme Court justices signalled support for the state\u2019s position. The petition had been filed on behalf of Palestinian refugee families and Gisha. Adalah stated that the Court had failed to address constitutional, human rights, and international law concerns and appeared unwilling to scrutinize the legislation. The organization preserved its legal arguments and reserved the right to return to court in the future.<\/li>\n<li>On 18 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alhaq.org\/advocacy\/27821.html\">Al-Haq<\/a> submitted a statement to the 63rd session of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Human Rights Council arguing that companies had continued to facilitate and profit from activities linked to Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The statement called for expanding the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ database of businesses involved in settlement activities, identifying additional sectors such as arms and technology companies, and holding corporate actors accountable. Al-Haq urged states to sanction listed companies and ensure compliance with international law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>Africa, Asia and Europe<\/u><\/strong><strong><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 26 August, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eccpalestine.org\/urgent-call-ahead-of-the-informal-gymnich-meeting-in-dublin\/\">European Coordination of Committees and Associations<\/a> for Palestine issued an appeal to EU leaders ahead of the informal Gymnich meeting in Dublin. The organization argued that the EU had failed to take meaningful punitive measures regarding Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank despite mounting humanitarian concerns. It called for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a freeze on preferential trade, and an end to military and economic cooperation, asserting that continued inaction risked enabling further violations of international law.<\/li>\n<li>On 20 August, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrc.no\/resources\/reports\/exposed-on-all-sides\">Norwegian Refugee Council<\/a> published a report assessing shelter conditions in Gaza nearly three years into the conflict. The report found that most of the population had experienced repeated displacement and continued to live in inadequate shelters, damaged homes, or overcrowded buildings. It estimated that more than 320,000 housing units had been damaged, affecting around 1.7 million people. The report highlighted severe shortages of shelter materials despite the ceasefire and classified living conditions ranging from crisis to catastrophic in many areas.<\/li>\n<li>On 20 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msf.org\/west-bank-escalating-violence-continues-drive-medical-needs\">M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res<\/a> reported that escalating violence, displacement, movement restrictions, and economic hardship in Hebron had increased both physical and mental health needs. MSF expanded its mobile clinic activities to address rising demand, particularly for mental health services linked to violence. The organization documented difficulties in accessing healthcare due to road closures, insecurity, shortages of medical staff and medicines, and operational restrictions. It called on Israeli authorities to ensure civilian protection and unobstructed access to healthcare and humanitarian assistance.<\/li>\n<li>On 19 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2026\/08\/19\/west-bank-illegal-e1-settlement-tender-opens-for-bids\">Human Rights Watch<\/a> reported that Israel had opened bids for 1,234 housing units in the E1 settlement project, part of a larger plan for 3,401 units. The organization argued that the project would fragment the West Bank, threaten Bedouin communities with displacement, and further entrench apartheid. HRW warned that companies participating in the tender risked complicity in serious violations of international law and urged governments to take measures to halt the project and restrict business involvement.<\/li>\n<li>On 14 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icrc.org\/en\/article\/daily-struggle-dignified-life-continues-palestinians-gaza\">the International Committee of the Red Cross<\/a> described the difficult living conditions facing Palestinians in Gaza despite reduced hostilities. It reported that many families continued to experience displacement, inadequate shelter, limited access to clean water, sanitation challenges, and strained healthcare services. The ICRC highlighted its efforts to rehabilitate water infrastructure, improve sanitation systems, and support primary healthcare centres. It stressed that essential services remained insufficient and that daily life continued to be marked by insecurity and hardship.<\/li>\n<li>On 14 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2026\/08\/israel-opt-siege-of-palestinian-homes-in-qusra-marks-relentless-escalation-in-state-backed-settler-violence\/\">Amnesty International<\/a> condemned the siege of several Palestinian families\u2019 homes in Qusra by Israeli settlers. The organization stated that the incident reflected a broader pattern of escalating settler violence and displacement across the West Bank. Amnesty reported that affected families had faced harassment, restricted access to food and water, and attacks on aid deliveries. It called on the international community to hold Israel accountable, end support for settlements, and strengthen protections for Palestinian communities at risk of displacement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>North America<\/u><\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 24 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/cmep.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CMEP-Elevates-the-_Jerusalem-Voice-for-Justice_-Appeal-from-August-2026.pdf\">Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)<\/a> expressed solidarity with the \u201cJerusalem Voice for Justice\u201d appeal and endorsed its calls for protecting civilians, expanding humanitarian access, ending violence and displacement, and safeguarding the rights of Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians. The appeal highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, deteriorating conditions in the West Bank, settlement expansion, restrictions on movement, and concerns about Christian emigration. It urged churches, governments, and international actors to take action to uphold human dignity, equality, and a just peace.<\/li>\n<li>On 19 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/afsc.org\/news\/6-ways-you-can-support-palestinians-gaza\">American Friends Service Committee<\/a> outlined six actions supporters could take to assist Palestinians in Gaza. It encouraged advocacy with members of Congress, participation in public awareness campaigns, education through Palestinian perspectives, corporate accountability and divestment initiatives and financial support for humanitarian and advocacy work. The article argued that Gaza continued to face severe humanitarian challenges and emphasized grassroots mobilization and political engagement as key avenues for support.<\/li>\n<li>On 18 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/fmep.org\/resource\/how-powerful-is-israels-lobby\/\">Foundation for Middle East Peace<\/a> published a podcast discussion featuring Peter Beinart, Eli Clifton, and Ian Lustick about their <em>book Israel\u2019s Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power<\/em>. The discussion explored the influence of pro-Israel advocacy networks in U.S. politics, the methods they used to shape policy debates, whether their influence had limits, and how the subject could be discussed without resorting to conspiracy theories. The speakers also considered possible future trends in the lobby\u2019s political influence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><u>United Nations<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On 26 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/unsco.unmissions.org\/en\/news\/security-council-briefing-26-august-2026\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Acting Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov<\/a> briefed the Security Council on the worsening situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He reported continued Israeli strikes in Gaza, significant humanitarian challenges, severe restrictions on civilian access, and deteriorating conditions in the West Bank. He highlighted concerns over settlement expansion, including the E1 tender, the seizure of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA Kalandia Training Centre, and the Palestinian Authority\u2019s fiscal crisis. He called for implementation of existing agreements, restoration of essential services in Gaza, protection of civilians, and progress toward a two-state solution.<\/li>\n<li>On 25 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/unsco.unmissions.org\/en\/news\/statement-by-the-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-ad\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Acting Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov<\/a> condemned the Israeli authorities\u2019 entry into and seizure of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA Kalandia Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem. He stated that the facility was protected under Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ privileges and immunities and argued that the action violated international legal obligations. He warned that the seizure could deprive hundreds of Palestine Refugee students of vocational education and jeopardize future access for many others. He urged Israel to withdraw from the facility and restore its inviolability without delay.<\/li>\n<li>On 25 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/newsroom\/official-statements\/unrwa-press-statement-kalandia-training-centre-occupied-east-jerusalem\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA<\/a> reported that Israeli Security Forces had entered the Kalandia Training Centre with armoured vehicles and numerous security personnel before authorities announced that the premises had been seized. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA condemned the action as an unauthorized intrusion into a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ facility and emphasized the Centre\u2019s longstanding role in providing vocational education to Palestine Refugees. The agency called on the international community to protect Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ premises and ensure that its operations could continue without interference or intimidation.<\/li>\n<li>On 25 August, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/content\/resources\/download_a_system_in_ruins_2026.pdf\">Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA<\/a>\u2019s report <em>A System in Crisis: Access to Healthcare in the Gaza Strip<\/em> concluded that Gaza\u2019s healthcare system had suffered a systemic collapse after nearly three years of conflict. It documented damage to health facilities, shortages of medicines, fuel, medical equipment, and personnel, and major obstacles to humanitarian access. The report found that women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and patients with chronic illnesses faced heightened risks. It noted that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA had continued providing services through mobile teams and temporary facilities but stressed that humanitarian actors could not replace a functioning healthcare system and called for sustained recovery efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations working on the question of Palestine. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat provide the information \u201cas is\u201d without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ngo-action-news-27-august-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[6640],"document-source":[5595,5539,5435,6144,2541,6377,1753,2173,6407,6659,2749,2549,5958,5881,3325,2897,1817,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2005,1741,5362,2137,6866,6891,6251],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-319998","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-ngo-action-news","document-source-adalah-legal-center-for-arab-minority-rights-in-israel","document-source-al-mezan-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-al-haq","document-source-american-friends-service-committee","document-source-amnesty-international","document-source-churches-for-middle-east-peace","document-source-ceirpp","document-source-division-for-palestinian-rights-dpr","document-source-european-coordination-of-committee-and-associations-for-palestine","document-source-foundation-for-middle-east-peace-fmep","document-source-human-rights-watch","document-source-international-committee-of-the-red-cross-icrc","document-source-medecins-sans-frontieres","document-source-norwegian-refugee-council-nrc","document-source-palestinian-centre-for-human-rights","document-source-peace-now","document-source-united-nations-relief-and-works-agency-for-palestine-refugees-in-the-near-east-unrwa","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-unsco","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-ngo-civil-society","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-settler-violence","document-subject-unrwa","document-subject-west-bank","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/319998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/319998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":320001,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/319998\/revisions\/320001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=319998"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=319998"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=319998"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=319998"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=319998"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=319998"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=319998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}