NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics
International

Activists Worldwide Demand Immediate Release of BDS Coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa

Mahmoud Nawajaa, general coordinator of the national committee of the BDS in Palestine, was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces early in the morning of July 30. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Peoples Dispatch
31 Jul 2020
Mahmoud Nawajaa. (Photo: via Twitter)

Mahmoud Nawajaa. (Photo: via Twitter)

The arrest of Mahmoud Nawajaa, general coordinator of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement’s National Committee (BNC) in Palestine, has invited global condemnation and demands for his immediate release are being raised by activists worldwide. Nawajaa (34) was arrested by Israeli forces in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank early morning on July 30, Thursday. 

Nawajaa has been a vocal opponent of the Israeli occupation and apartheid against the Palestinian people. He has also criticized Israel’s proposed annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank as a crystallization of “a 21st century apartheid”.  Pointing to Israel’s consistent denial of Palestinians’ “inalienable right to self-determination”, he has previously said that “it is high time for all states and international organizations to comply with their legal obligations by adopting effective countermeasures, including sanctions” against Israel.

According to a statement issued by the BDS movement, scores of Israeli forces personnel stormed Nawajaa’s home at around 3:30 a.m on Thursday, blindfolded and handcuffed him in front of his wife and three children, before taking him away. According to the last reports, even after 24 hours of his arrest, his whereabouts are still unknown.

Israel’s bid to attack all form of resistance

Nawajaa was among 17 Palestinians arrested by the Israeli forces from different parts of the occupied Palestine on Thursday and Wednesday. Jamal Juma, one of Nawajaa’s colleagues in the BNC in Palestine, told Middle East Eye that they have no information about his whereabouts. “They [Israeli occupation forces] are attacking any form of resistance movement in Palestine, including the BDS movement,” Juma said.  

Taking its cue from the South African anti-apartheid movement, the BDS movement was launched by Palestinians in 2005 as a global campaign for the economic and cultural boycott of Israel in order to pressure it to end its occupation and apartheid against Palestinians. Israel has actively tried to suppress its activities and discredit its agenda by calling it anti-Semitic.  

BNC is a coalition of more than 200 organizations inside occupied Palestine, including various women’s groups, trade unions and other civil society and political organizations united against the Israeli occupation and peacefully campaigning for the boycott of Israel.

The BDS movement’s co-founder, Omar Barghouti, issued a statement following news of Nawajaa’s arrest and called for his immediate release. As per the statement, “Israel’s regime of military occupation, settler colonialism and apartheid is desperately trying to terrorize Palestinian BDS activists and their families, after having failed to slow down the growth of the movement. We call on all BDS activists everywhere to further strengthen BDS campaigning to hold Israel accountable”.  

#FreeMahmoud

Several other organizations across the globe condemned the BDS activist’s arrest and demanded his immediate release. BDS Colombia pointed out that “by stopping him they attack the heart of the non-violent campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on Israel.” It called on activists everywhere to ” demand the immediate release of Mahmoud and all Palestinian prisoners and prisoners.” BDS India issued a statement calling for solidarity across the movement. “We in India know much too well the face of persecution and the moral necessity to defend prisoners of conscience. The use of draconian laws like UAPA to silence dissent is an ongoing battle for us. We understand the need to build solidarities across movements, especially as the regimes that rule us start to mirror one another,” the statement reads.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, tweeted, “Israeli occupation forces in Palestine have kidnapped Mahmoud Nawajaa, @BDSmovement coordinator! Solidarity with Mahmood and BDS movement. Immediately release Mahmood and all political prisoners! #FreeMahmoud.”

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) too has issued a statement condemning the arrest. It said the arrest is yet another attack by “the Apartheid state of Israel on those who speak out and organize against its crimes against the Palestinian people. That a human rights defender and community leader can be arrested in the dead of night, in front of his wife and terrified small children by dozens of armed soldiers speaks volumes about Israel’s system of oppression.” IPSC also demanded that the Irish government intervene to secure Nawajaa’s release.

Irish Congress for Trade Unions released a similar statement demanding the Irish state to intervene in the matter to secure the release of Nawajaa. 

CODEPINK  in a tweet called the arrest totally reprehensible, and drew parallels between the US government’s actions against the Portland protesters and the arrest of Palestinian activists by the Israeli state.

Several other activists and groups from across the globe have been participating in the #FreeMahmoud campaign on Twitter and other social media platforms.

Courtesy: Peoples dispatch
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Attack on resistance movements in Israel
BDS India
Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement
Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Israeli Occupation of Palestine
israeli apartheid
Related Stories
Israel destroys entire Palestinian village in a massive demolition operation

Israel Destroys Entire Palestinian Village in a Massive Demolition Operation

isreal

Israeli Security Forces Arrest Palestinian Journalist in Night Raid

Palestinians Protest Against UAE and Bahrain Signing “Normalisation” Deals With Israel

Palestinians Protest Against UAE and Bahrain Signing “Normalisation” Deals With Israel

Hamas Announces Ceasefire

Hamas Announces Ceasefire with Israel

Israel launches fresh attacks on Gaza

Israel Launches Fresh Attacks on Gaza

BDS Activist Mahmoud Nawajaa

Following Protests Across the Globe, Israel Releases BDS Activist Mahmoud Nawajaa

BDS activist Mahmoud Nawajaa

BDS Activist’s Detention Extended for 15 Days by Military Court in Israel

Mahmoud Nawajaa, general coordinator of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)

Activists Worldwide Demand Immediate Release of BDS Coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa

Israeli Forces Arrest BDS National Committee

Israeli Forces Arrest BDS National Committee General Coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa

Israel Demolishes COVID-19 Testing Facility in Hebron, Palestine

Israel Demolishes COVID-19 Testing Facility in Hebron, Palestine

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

Peoples Dispatch

International Criminal Court Announces Investigation into War Crimes in Palestine

04 March 2021
The International Criminal Court (ICC) will formally open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian Territorie
Peoples Dispatch

Israel an “Apartheid Regime” According to B’Tselem Report

14 January 2021
B’Tselem, Israel’s oldest and one of most prominent human rights group, published a position paper on Tuesday, January 12, in which it describes Is
Peoples Dispatch

People’s Movements Across the World Stand in Solidarity with Palestinian People

01 December 2020
Movements and progressive sections all across the world marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Sunday, November

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • TMC, AIADMK Release Candidate List for Assembly Polls

    TMC, AIADMK Release Candidate List for Assembly Polls

  • HP eco down

    Himachal Pradesh to Clock Negative Growth of 6.2% in FY21 Due to Pandemic: Eco Survey

  • Coronavirus-Hit  Maharashtra  Economy to Contract 8% in FY21: Eco Survey

    Coronavirus-Hit Maharashtra Economy to Contract 8% in FY21: Eco Survey

  • chian gdp

    China Sets Over 6% GDP Target in 2021 as Economy in Rebound Mode

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about