Organizations that help Palestinian people

The everyday struggle of Palestinians is not part of the mainstream vernacular. Much of the conflict is not seen or heard in Western mainstream television. This could be because it’s part of the problem considering the West has been funding the war against Palestinians by arming Israel. In fact, Palestine has historically been occupied by outside military forces. Israel has invaded and militarily occupied the West Bank in Gaza for the last 50 years. Throughout this time, political activists have been imprisoned, civilians murdered, and culture has been removed. As the ongoing struggle of Palestinians continues to unfold, some humanitarian efforts have been made to fight for a better world. This article dives into the organizations that have been helping Palestinians for decades, and how everyone globally can offer support to combat violence against Palestinian people. 

Moreover, one organization is the Islamic Relief organization that has been working for the past two decades, since 1994. The Islamic Relief organization provides humanitarian relief, and being a voice for those affected by violence of the military and apartheid. Islamic Relief has women and children’s programs, as well as orphan programs, food aid, emergency response, information on religious holidays and campaign for donations for winter clothes and mattresses for refugees. It is a reminder that people are sleeping in makeshift shelters, with no amenities, dealing with psychological trauma. Islamic Relief works in nearly 30 countries with an extensive network to combat the devastation of those faced with this struggle. For instance, the organization has internships, career opportunities, podcasts, blogs, and publications to unite in the fight for justice.  

Secondly, Al-Haq (translated to “The Law”) works similarly within their organization. Al-Haq was established in 1979 by Palestinian lawyers that worked in the West Bank city of Ramallah. It focuses its efforts on documenting and researching human rights violations to advocate for laws and policies that help Palestinian people. In 2009, Al-Haq opened a center for Applied International Law as the first of its kind. The goal for the center is to compile research, educate and train activists and students to use their knowledge for practical application. The center has workshops, seminars, training courses, and conferences to meet their goals. Additionally, since 2011, Al-Haq has provided an archive on their website of individual’s stories of their rights being violated. 

Likewise, Adalah (translated to “Justice”)—The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, is an organization of lawyers and activists advocating for laws and policies on behalf of Palestinian citizens. The center was established in 1996 by Hassan Jabareen and Rina Rosenberg working in Haifa, north of Israel. For 20 years, Adalah has campaigned for justice and reparations to Palestinian civilians who have been impacted by apartheid and the military. Particularly, the center defends clients, taking on human rights court cases. Adalah, much like Al-Haq, addresses discriminatory laws and educates students and activists to combat the violation of human rights. 

These organizations seek to educate, and through growing social media, these organizations provide the voices of those affected. Because of the dedication of these organizations, people’s stories are read, heard, or seen globally, thus people are beginning to recognize this as a global issue. More than ever does citizens recognize that Israel is continuing to expand settlements and the US still holds an interest in the Middle East for oil. Collectively, people will be in solidarity with the Palestinian people, demand compliance with all nations, and put an end to all war and global domination. Likewise, people will put pressure on governments to protect Palestinians, and ensure for their freedom and equality.