DaysofPal- Israeli occupation forces have closed a Palestinian endowment office in the occupied city of Jerusalem on the directive of far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The decision, according to Israeli authorities, was based on claims that the office operated on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The move has sparked strong condemnation from Palestinian officials and institutions, who have dismissed the allegations and warned of the broader implications of such actions on Palestinian life in the city.
In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate denounced the closure as a “hostile step” and “part of the occupation’s systematic efforts to undermine the Palestinian presence in their occupied capital and part of its open-ended war against the Jerusalemite institutions.”
The targeted organization, the Jerusalem Fund and Endowment Office, was accused by Israeli authorities of engaging in unauthorized political activities. However, the Jerusalem Governorate firmly rejected the accusation, calling it “baseless and untrue.” It emphasized that the office functions solely as a non-political body dedicated to “social, humanitarian, and charitable endeavors.”
“The nature of the work of the endowment and its fund is limited to social, humanitarian, and charitable work only and has nothing to do with any political activity,” the statement read.
It further condemned the decision as part of a broader campaign of violations committed under the cover of international silence: “Such blatant attacks would not have continued without the international silence on all the serious violations by Israel as an occupying power of all international norms and conventions that guarantee the freedom of civil and humanitarian work.”
Established in 2014, the Jerusalem Endowment Fund is described by its organizers as an independent, non-profit organization. Its mission is to empower Palestinians in Jerusalem and to support development across various sectors in order to preserve Palestinian national identity and resilience in the city.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a strong rebuke of the Israeli action, describing it as “another facet of genocide, displacement, and annexation” and “part of the Judaization crimes happening in Jerusalem.”
In its statement, the ministry noted that the Jerusalem Fund and Endowment Office joins a growing list of charitable and humanitarian organizations that have been shut down in the city. It warned that such closures increase pressure on Jerusalemite residents and are part of a larger strategy to push Palestinians out of their city.
The ministry urged the international community to go beyond expressions of concern and take tangible action. It called for the enforcement of international resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolution 2334, asserting, “There is an urgent need for practical steps to ensure the protection of the population and enable them to exercise their full rights.”
Since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, authorities have closed more than 100 Palestinian institutions. These include the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, the Jerusalem Heritage Committee, and the Department of Prisoners and Detainees. In addition, numerous Palestinian officials and public figures in Jerusalem have been subjected to prosecution, deportation, and house arrest, including the Minister of Jerusalem and the Governor of Jerusalem.
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