Rare judicial acknowledgment of right to self-defense following arrest of 22 Palestinian residents of Jinba

In April 2025, HRDF-funded attorneys Lea Tsemel and Riham Nassra successfully secured the release of all 22 Palestinian detainees who were arrested on March 30 from the village of Jinba, following a violent settler pogrom and military raid targeting homes and schools. In a rare judicial acknowledgment of the right of Palestinians to defend themselves against settler aggression, the military court stated during the detention hearing that the detainees had acted in legitimate self-defense in response to an unprovoked and orchestrated settler attack.

Release of Hamdan Ballal, co-director of Oscar-winning ‘No Other Land’

In March 2025, Hamdan Ballal and two other residents of Masafer Yatta were viciously beaten and detained by Israeli soldiers after documenting a settler attack in the Palestinian village of Susiya. Due to the legal intervention provided by HRDF-funded attorney Lea Tsemel, Ballal and the other detainees were released within 24 hours the following day, with no additional charges pressed against them.

Release of Ahmad & Mahmoud Muna of the Educational Bookshop within 48 hours

In February 2025, Ahmad and Mahmoud Muna of the Educational Bookshop were arrested during a police raid on the bookshop, in an alarming attack on freedom of thought at the revered cultural institution in East Jerusalem. In spite of the fact that the police originally requested an 8-day extension of their detention (a request which the judge partially granted at first), both were released from detention within 48 hours, due to the expert legal representation of HRDF-funded attorney Adv. Nasser Odeh.

7 indictments filed against violent settlers as a result of HRDF legal aid

In 2024, HRDF provided legal support to dozens of victims of felony settler violence, which included assisting them in filing police complaints, providing witness testimony, and appealing to re-open investigations into settler assaults. HRDF support to felony victims of settler violence in 2024 aided in the filing of 7 indictments (which led to 2 convictions), and compelled the reopening of 3 investigations into settler attacks. Settlers who were indicted as a result of HRDF’s legal aid include: Zohar Sabah, Shalom Zicherman, and Einan Tanjil.

Victories and desirable settlements in 7 SLAPP suits

In 2024, HRDF won full victories or desirable settlements in our legal defense of seven politically-motivated SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). These types of lawsuits are intended to drain the resources of human rights organizations and journalists, to prevent them from publishing investigative research on violations and illegal activities. View the full summary of these wins HERE.

Publication of “Voices of Human Rights Defenders”

In December 2024, HRDF released our special publication “Voices of Human Rights Defenders,” which shines an intimate spotlight on the live and struggles of 12 courageous women and men, and on the prices paid for their dedication to defending human rights on this land. The project also has a complementary video series, viewed here.

No convictions in “no-contest pleas” for four HRDs

In 2024, HRDF secured “no conviction” outcomes through no-contest plea bargains in four criminal cases against three East Jerusalem Palestinian human rights defenders and one Finnish-Israeli human rights defender.

Provided “Freedom of Expression” trainings to 800 HRDs after October 7th

After October 7th, HRDF jumpstarted a highly successful new training module on ‘Freedom of Expression under the Anti-Terror Laws.’ This has been administered to over 800 HRDs, both Palestinian citizens of Israel and Israeli activist groups. This training supplies HRDs with the knowledge and tools to express political dissent without putting themselves at risk of prosecution on terror-related charges.

Closure of Inquiry Against Amal Oraby

In August, the Israeli Bar Association Ethics Committee’s review case against Palestinian lawyer and HRD Amal Oraby was successfully closed. Oraby was at risk of his lawyer’s license being revoked following a complaint submitted to the committee by right-wing extremist Shay Glick, due to his criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza. After multiple appeals to the committee by HRDF-funded attorney Michael Sfard, the Israeli Bar Association dropped the inquiry and Oraby was able to retain his license.

Israeli Supreme Court criticizes army policy following HRDF petition

In a key hearing of HRDF’s principal petition against the army’s inequitable use of closed military zone orders, Israel’s Supreme Court judges critically questioned the state’s use of this practice, and compelled the army to issue answers as to the legality and legitimacy of this practice. View Ha’aretz report here.

Full acquittal for head of local council in Tuwani, Masafer Yatta

In June 2024, HRDF secured the full acquittal of Muhammad Rabaei, the head of the local council in A-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta, after he was indicted in military court for intervening in a settler attack against local shepherds. You can read about the full case in our newsletter HERE.

Halted the army’s illegal practice of prolonged arbitrary detention

The army halted its illegal practice of arbitrarily detaining Palestinians in Area C under Military Ordinance 33, following legal pressure from HRDF’s Supreme Court petition on the issue.

Secured release of human rights attorney Ahmad Khalefa from security prison

In a Supreme Court hearing, HRDF-funded attorney Afnan Khalifa secured the release of Ahmad Khalefa from security prison in February 2024, where he was held in pre-trial remand for four months awaiting trial on terrorism charges for participating in a protest in solidarity with Gaza. In prison, Khalefa experienced torture and starvation, and witnessed a man in the cell next to him die from intestinal injuries due to beatings by prison guards.

Munther Amira freed from administrative detention

In February 2024, Munther Amira was released from administrative detention a month before the end date of his detention order, following HRDF legal pressure (including a Supreme Court petition). Munther Amira is a a respected community leader and social worker from the Aida Refugee Camp who has been publicly committed to nonviolence for over two decades. In December 2023, he was arrested from an army night raid on his home during which his family members were beaten and hospitalized. Upon his release, he had lost 73 pounds from starvation, and reported torture and sexual abuse during his time in prison. In court, the Shin Bet conceded that they had detained Munther to prevent the possibility of him organizing future demonstrations.

Meir Baruchin freed after he was arrested for “treason”

In November 2023, Meir Baruchin, a 62-year-old Jewish-Israeli schoolteacher was detained for five days on suspicions of “the intent to commit treason,” because of a Facebook post condemning the army’s killing of Palestinians and because police found anti-occupation posters in his home. HRDF-funded attorney Nasser Odeh secured Baruchin’s release within 5 days, and he has not been indicted since.

Enabled Issa Amro’s full return to his home in Hebron, after two attempts to expel him

Prominent Palestinian HRD Issa Amro was expelled twice in October 2023 from his home in Hebron by army officials. Due to repeated legal intervention by HRDF-funded attorneys Adv. Michael Sfard and Adv. Alon Sapir, which included two Supreme Court petitions, Amro was able to return to his home in November 2023 and has not been evicted since.

Freed Palestinian political scientist from jail after he was arrested for “aiding the enemy”

In October 2023, Palestinian political leader Dr. Amer Al Huzail was arrested on suspicion of “aiding Hamas”, after posting a political analysis on Facebook on the consequences of a military ground invasion. Dr. Al Huzail, who is a Doctor of Political Science and former deputy mayor of the Bedouin city of Rahat, was held in detention for six days on charges legitimized under the anti-terrorism laws. Due to the expert legal counsel provided by HRDF-funded attorney Adv. Shahda Ibn Bari, he was released within a week without any further charge, and no indictment has been filed against him.

HRDF awarded esteemed Aachen Peace Prize

In September 2023, HRDF was awarded the Aachen Peace Prize in recognition of our critical legal defense work protecting Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders on both sides of the Green Line. View our full statement and acceptance speech here.

No conviction in criminal case against “Standing Together” Leader Sally Abed

In August 2023, the criminal proceedings against ‘Standing Together’ leader Sally Abed concluded without a conviction. Abed was arrested in Jaffa during the May 2021 nation-wide demonstrations, after blocking a police car with her body in an attempt to prevent the arrest of a young Palestinian minor, and indicted in January 2023. The indictment falsely alleged that Abed had pushed and punched the officer during the incident. In August 2023, the criminal proceedings were closed with a “no contest plea” with no conviction, after the original indictment was amended to reflect that Abed had not used any violence during the incident. Abed was soon after elected to Haifa City Council in the 2024 Municipal Elections.

Partial aquittal of Issa Amro in military court trial

In June 2023, the appeal in the military court case against prominent HRD Issa Amro reached verdict. HRDF-funded lawyer Riham Nassra secured Amro’s partial acquittal on 14 out of 18 counts, and ensured he would not face any prison time.