In March 2025, ELSC defended students’ protest rights in the UK, challenged workplace repression in Germany, and supported legal action in Italy and beyond. From major court rulings to FOI campaigns and new resources for activists, this issue highlights key wins and ways to keep mobilising for Palestinian rights across Europe.
In February 2025, ELSC secured a final victory in the Speakap discrimination case, challenged anti-Palestinian repression in Germany and Austria, and spotlighted student rights in Britain. This issue also covers urgent updates on state repression, solidarity events, media coverage, and new resources to defend Palestine advocacy across Europe.
In January 2025, ELSC launched major legal actions across Europe, including a corporate complaint against Axel Springer and new evidence against Booking.com. From legal wins in Milan to school repression in Berlin, we continue defending the Palestine solidarity movement. Read the latest updates, resources, and how you can join the fight.
In November 2024, ELSC secured key legal victories, including Dana Abu Qamar’s tribunal win and Shahd Abusalama’s settlement. We advanced our genocide case against the Dutch state and supported student protests and legal action in Germany and Italy. Read about our community events, legal updates, and vital resources for organisers.
In October 2024, ELSC filed a major lawsuit against the Dutch state for complicity in genocide, secured a legal win for Dr. Shahd Abusalama, and supported protests and repression cases across Europe. Read about our legal updates, solidarity actions, student wins, and how you can support the fight for Palestinian justice.
Dear Friend, In the past month, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of legal victories, which we bring to you in this month’s newsletter, along with some useful resources to continue mobilising for Palestine. CASE UPDATES BDS Austria: we’re going to the Supreme Court! Do you remember our case supporting BDS Austria against…
In August 2024, ELSC supported landmark legal victories against repression—from fighting criminalisation of slogans in Germany to defending students and lecturers in the UK. This newsletter includes major case updates, strategic wins, and tools to push back against silencing tactics. Explore new resources and learn how to support ongoing legal actions.
In July 2024, ELSC celebrated key victories in the Netherlands, Britain, and across Europe—supporting students, workers, and activists facing repression. This newsletter highlights legal wins, updates on strategic cases, new resources for the movement, and events from Berlin to Milan. Stay informed and mobilised for Palestinian rights.
The Student Intifada Movement at the University of Milan has produced an analysis dossier on Reichman University, with which many European institutions cooperate with, including the University of Milan. The dossier is in Italian and can be consulted or downloaded below. It serves as a useful resource for further analysis of Israeli universities’ complicity in…
The ELSC documents and challenges the growing wave of defunding and smear campaigns targeting Palestinian organisations. Learn how these attacks threaten civil society, and how we are working to defend Palestinian advocacy.
May 15, 2024 Berlin, Administrative court Potsdam slams German Federal Police: Schengen-Information-System entry for Prof. Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah has no legal basis and is to be revoked immediately after an emergency appeal by ELSC lawyer Alexander Gorski with support from lawyers from the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP). This effectively ends the…
We are a collective of lawyers in Germany who have recently filed an urgent appeal against the arms shipments from Germany to Israel before the Berlin Administrative Court. We were informed by activists that the cargo ship “Borkum” will dock in Cartagena today – Wednesday, May 15, 2024 – loaded with arms shipments for Israel….
Dear Friend, In the past weeks and months, we have joined forces with many of you who are mobilising tirelessly for an end to Israel’s heinous crimes against Gaza. In the first 2 months of 2024 alone, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of victories for the movement – which we bring to you…
After discovering that the European Commission (EC) was violating its own rules around funding projects involving Israeli entities, an activist with ICAHD Finland, with the support of the ELSC, recently got the EU Ombudsman to issue an important decision which confirms that any entity established in the Israeli illegal settlements in the OPT should be…
ELSC is hiring a Finance Manager and an Administration Officer to support our growing team. These roles are vital to managing finances, fundraising operations, and recruitment processes. Ideal candidates are organised, proactive, and people-focused. Join us in building legal support for Palestinian rights. Apply by 12 February 2024.
Amsterdam, January 22, 2024 The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative has issued a stark warning to European public officials of the Austrian, French, German and Dutch governments that they could be individually liable for their role in aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of Genocide through their involvement…
n light of the heinous actions of the State of Israel against the Palestinian people, and the extension of its oppressive structures onto Palestinians and their supporters in Europe, the ELSC expresses its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation and justice against colonial oppression and apartheid.
The ELSC’s new report reveals how the IHRA definition of antisemitism is weaponized to silence Palestinian rights advocacy, violating freedom of expression and assembly across the EU and UK. Read the full report here.
Bringing you relevant updates on the defence of Palestinian rights advocacy in Europe.
Today, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) launches its new report “Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism – Violating the Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the European Union and the UK”. The report is the first case-based account of human rights violations resulting from the institutionalisation and application of the controversial IHRA definition by the European Union and the UK. The growing concerns about the negative human rights impact of the IHRA definition, have so far been ignored by the EU.
The ELSC signed this joint statement initiated by Al-Haq at the occasion of the commemoration of 75 years after Nakba in Palestine.
The ELSC gave an interview to Dr Sevgi Doğan for Security Praxis blog about the impact of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism on academic freedom and unfounded allegations of antisemitism in academia. Read it below.
The Don’t Buy Into Occupation coalition releases its second report exposing European financial institutions’ involvement in the Israeli illegal settlement enterprise.
We have just launched our year-end campaign to gather the funds we need to continue our work in 2023!
On 17 October 2022, 65 Palestinian, regional and international organisations sent a joint letter to the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, welcoming him in his new position and highlighting some of the recent alarming Israeli policies and practices imposed against Palestinians.
7amleh, along with 73 of local, regional and international partners – including the ELSC – has issued a joint statement regarding BSR’s Human Rights Due Diligence report on Arabic and Hebrew content on Meta’s platform. Human rights organizations and civil society have been calling for an independent review of Meta’s content moderation policies as they pertain to Palestine for years, so we commend the publication of this report.
The ELSC co-signed a letter to call upon the EU and its Member States to cancel the EU-Israel Association and to “hold Israel accountable for its persistent crimes and human rights violations”.
In the judgment Moerenhout and others v Commission, delivered on May 12, 2021, the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union (GCUE) ruled on a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) calling upon the European Commission to adopt measures to regulate trade with occupied territories. The Court found the Commission violated its obligation to…
The ELSC will join a webinar organised by the Community Action Center – Al-Quds University to discuss the academic and journalistic freedom to criticise Israeli illegal policies.
On 7 January 2021, the European Commission (“EC”) published a “Handbook for the practical use of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism” (hereafter: Handbook), notwithstanding the widespread criticism and concerns surrounding the International Holocaust Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism (hereafter: IHRA-WDA) in the last years. As also reflected in its title, the Handbook aims to promote Good Practices in the application of the IHRA-WDA. It contains sections on the IHRA-WDA, presents the 11 Contemporary Examples of Antisemitism attached to it (hereafter: Examples) and lists (alleged) antisemitic incidents. It also offers Good Practices on the use of the IHRA-WDA in various policy areas, including law enforcement, the judiciary and education; and contains a Good Practices checklist.
The ELSC took part in a initiative led by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) to ask key EU institutions and Member States to uphold the rule of international law and human rights for Palestinians at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Read the press release of the CIHRS below.
This month, we share with you some victories from the UK and Switzerland, an important analysis on German case law in favour of BDS, updates on the cases of BT3P and BDS Austria, new cases of repression in Germany and The Netherlands, and a landmark European Citizens Initiative.
We joined a coalition of more than 100 organisations asking European citizens to sign the European Citizens Initiative that will push the EU to ban trade with illegal settlements and therefore align its policy with international law. See our press release below.
Dear friend, This month we share with you our 2021 achievements in pushing back against silencing Palestinian rights advocacy, a campaign in support of an activist of BDS Austria sued over a Facebook post, updates on the repression of Palestinian civil society, an important ruling in Germany on the illegality of anti-BDS motion, and unfounded…
We are pleased to share our achievements last year in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and human rights.
Along with 59 other civil society organisations from all around the world, we asked the Dutch government to resume its funding for UAWC and to reject Israel’s designation of Palestinian NGOs. Indeed, the Dutch decision to cut funding was baseless, and the Dutch government also failed to reject the Israeli designation whereas it was recognised as unsubstantiated.
The Charity and Security Network published a briefing paper on the Dutch government’s decision to cut funding for UAWC, with recommendations for Donors Seeking to Support Palestinian Civil Society.
Dear friend, This month we share with you important updates on challenging Israel’s attack on Palestinian civil society and the repression of Palestinian rights advocacy in Europe including in the Netherlands and the UK, a webinar, op-eds, and other news and resources. On the 29th of November, which marked the International Day of Solidarity with the…
The ELSC joined more than 100 organisations, groups and unions to ask the EU to take strong actions against the unfounded designation of six Palestinian human rights organisations as “terrorist”.
The ELSC released a new leaflet addressing 10 situations in which our team can defend the right to advocate for Palestinian rights.
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), PAX, SOMO, The Rights Forum and Al Haq are inviting you to a webinar Challenging the Repression of Palestinian Rights Advocacy on the 18th of November 2021 at 5.30pm.
This month we share with you news on our work to push back against the criminalisation of Palestinian civil society by Israel as well as our new report on shrinking space and Palestinian rights advocacy in the Netherlands. We also share good news from the UK where the authorities rejected unfounded allegations by a lawfare group, updates from the BT3P team who challenged the German Parliament in Court, and new job and traineeship opportunities with the ELSC.
The ELSC launches its Movement Lawyering Traineeship that aims to educate the next generation of human rights lawyers and advocates by rooting their legal training, experience and practice in the Palestine solidarity movement.
The ELSC joined 234 organisations to express solidarity with Palestinian civil society and human rights defenders after the latest attempt from the Israeli governement to silence them. We collectively urge the international community to take all necessary measures to protect them.
A regularly updated list of international reactions condemning Israel’s 2021 designation of six Palestinian organisations as “terrorist.” Featuring statements from UN, EU, states, and NGOs.
On 22 October 2021, the Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz announced the official designation of six prominent Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations (CSOs) as “terrorist” organisations.
We are seeking a Development Officer to lead fundraising and administrative work, including management of human resources and strategic planning.
This month we share with you updates on our work protecting students and Palestinian advocates in the UK, a new report on European financial support for companies involved in the Israeli settlement enterprise, exciting news on the BT3P case challenging the German Bundestag, an important step challenging EU trade with occupied territories and a victory for academic freedom for an international legal scholar.
The ELSC joined a global coalition of leaders from civil society to academia, art, media, business, politics, indigenous and faith communities, and people of conscience around the world– to call upon the States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to act decisively to put an end to Israel’s use of arms and military equipment…
Today the ELSC announces the release of our 2020 Year-in-Review, which provides an overview our work, achievements and cases in the defence of Palestinian rights advocacy in Europe in 2020.
Our 2020 Year-in-Review provides an overview our work, achievements and cases in the defence of Palestinian rights advocacy in Europe in 2020.
This month we share with you updates from our work around Europe. In Brussels, we sent a joint letter to the EU commission challenging the political instrumentalization of the controversial IHRA definition, in the UK we assisted students and academics to challenge repression when they speak up in defence of Palestinian rights and we challenged…
Yesterday, 10 European NGOs and networks sent an open letter to the European Commission to raise concern about the political instrumentalization of the fight against antisemitism. The ELSC is one of the signatories.
This month we once again witnessed the brutal bombardment of Gaza and violent commission of human rights abuses by Israeli authorities and settlers. In a global response, communities worldwide rose in solidarity calling for freedom and justice in Palestine. Yet, this call was not without struggle as this month we share with you all too common stories of censorship and repression of Palestinian rights activists. We also share the news of a win in an EU court, part of the effort to stop trade with illegal settlements, as well as an update on the BT3P campaign challenging the German Bundestag’s anti-BDS motion.
This month, we have a few exciting victories for Palestinian rights advocacy. We recall an important success in The Netherlands, share with you a new report by Human Rights Watch detailing the crime of apartheid being committed by Israel against Palestinians, and report on the University of Toronto being censored for cancelling the employment of ELSC Advisory Board member Dr. Valentina Azarova for her human rights work.
In the judgement Organisation juive européenne and Vignoble Psagot v. Ministre de l’Économie et des Finances, delivered on 12 November 2019, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on the interpretation of the EU Regulation in relation to foodstuffs produced in the territories occupied by the State of Israel since June 1967. The Court found that these products not only have to bear the indication of the territory of origin, but also specify if they come from an Israeli settlement within that territory, if that is the case.
In this month’s newsletter, we share with you the release of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, welcome a new member to the ELSC advisory board and highlight our 2021 work so far and how you can help to make this an important year for the protection of Palestinian rights advocacy in Europe. JERUSALEM DEFINITION ON…
The new briefing paper discusses in detail important concerns raised by the “Handbook for the practical use of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism” published by the European Commission on 7 January 2021. The publication of the Handbook is yet another indication of how Europe has become the arena of persistent efforts to delegitimize advocacy…
The ELSC has welcomed the opportunity to make a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, for her 2021 Human Rights Council report. The ELSC submission argued that the campaign initiated by the Israeli government and several politically motivated NGOs labelling the BDS movement and its supporters as inherently antisemitic amount to disinformation.
The ELSC, PAX, Oxfam Novib, SOMO, and The Rights Forum are hosting a webinar on shrinking space in Area C of the occupied Palestinian territories. The event will take place on Thursday 4 February from 3 pm until 4:30 pm CET.
More than 35 organisations and 31,000 signatories are already supporting the campaign “Facebook, we need to talk – and you’re not letting us.” calling the main social media platform to not add Zionist to its hate speech policy. Right now, Facebook is reaching out to stakeholders to ask if critical conversations that use the term “Zionist” fall within the rubric of hate speech as per Facebook’s Community Standards. Basically, Facebook is assessing if “Zionist” is being used as a proxy for “Jewish people or Israelis” in attacks on its platform.
31 prominent human rights organisations, networks and trade unions from Palestine and Europe have submitted a report to the OHCHR demanding that CAF be included in the UN database of businesses involved in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise for its role in expanding and operating Israel’s Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR).
ELSC Programme Director featured in a documentary on the repression of advocates for Palestinian rights and the weaponisation of antisemitism in Germany
The report “NGO Monitor: Shrinking Space – Defaming Human Rights Organisations that Criticize the Israeli Occupation” is the work of a collective of Israeli ex-diplomats, academics and others, known as the Policy Working Group (PWG).
Palestine legal’s Report, The Palestine Exception to Free Speech: A Movement Under Attack in the US documents for the first time the widespread and growing suppression of Palestinian human rights advocacy in the United States.
After decades of occupation, which already put severe restrictions on the ability of CSOs to operate in the occupied Palestinian Territory, and at a time when the Israeli government is no longer hiding its intention to permanently annex large swaths of land, the civic and humanitarian space in which Palestinian and Israeli civil society are…
Thursday 11 June 2020 marked a decisive victory for freedom of expression of Palestinian rights defenders in Europe. The European Court of Human Rights Court (ECtHR) rendered its judgement, unanimously ruling that the French highest court’s criminal conviction of BDS activists campaigning for a boycott of Israeli products violated their freedom of expression, protected by…
Al-Haq and GLAN’s new report analyses the supply chains and administrative and legal framework for the activities of businesses of the occupying State and of foreign companies in these territories.
Along with 180 civil society coalitions and organisations, ELSC signed the Open Letter that was submitted to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, on 29 April. We express our strong support for the opening of an investigation into Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which was initiated by Bensouda in December.
You will find in it an overview of accomplishments in the ELSC’s first year on the main pillars of our program – Monitoring, Legal Defence and Empowerment of the movement for Palestinian rights. Read our 2019 Annual Report
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