ICYMI

Israel’s New NGO Restrictions | Ceasefire Broken | Massacre in Gaza

Israel has announced new visa and registration rules for NGOs providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the occupied territories in Gaza and the West Bank. These policies would allow Israeli authorities to have extensive decision-making rights to either approve or reject non-profit registrations based on a wide range of political and security-related criteria, predicted to be in effect in the coming 6 months. Importantly, all currently operating NGOs need to reapply under the new policy. As NGOs currently provide critical medical aid, food distribution, and infrastructure support for occupied areas, this policy would greatly impact aid flow, as well as put aid workers at risk.

Last Tuesday, Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and killed over 400 people in a single night. Since then, the assaults have been relentless, recently targeting the Al-Nasser hospital complex as well as displaced people living in tents. After the first phase of the ceasefire deal ended in early March, Israel pushed to prolong its conditions, delaying the planned second phase. Hamas rejected this proposal, insisting on moving to the second phase, which would include the release of the remaining hostages, an Israeli military withdrawal, and negotiations for a permanent solution. Instead, Israel halted all aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip on 2 March and now continues its onslaught of air strikes. On 24 March, two media workers, Mohammad Mansour and Hossam Shabat, were killed by targeted drone attacks.

Protests in Turkey After Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu’s Arrest 

Large protests broke out in Istanbul after the city’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested by the Turkish authorities. Charged with corruption and collaborating with leftist groups, he was sent to pretrial detention shortly after being nominated as the presidential candidate by his party, the CHP. Tens of thousands demonstrated over the weekend against the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strongest rival. The protestors, many of them students, were met with police brutality, as officers pushed them back violently and used pepper spray. More than 1,100 people, including journalists, were arrested, and the Turkish government made attempts to ban political social media accounts. These protests are led by the student movement, which has been mobilising against the repressive government in Turkey.

Ekrem İmamoğlu's supporters have dismissed the charges raised against him, calling his arrest a crackdown on oppositional forces by the ruling government. Ekrem İmamoğlu was set to run in the 2028 elections in Turkey and is considered the only candidate who could defeat the current president. While the government rejects the claim, the arrest appears to be politically motivated and aimed at disrupting Ekrem İmamoğlu’s political momentum. To express their solidarity with the mayor of Istanbul, people cast symbolic votes at ballots across the city.

Paris Votes on 500 Car-Free Streets

Parisian mayor Hidalgo’s proposal to replace 500 streets with trees instead of cars passed last Sunday, advancing the city’s goals of going green and adapting to climate change. This follows Hidalgo’s initiatives for a greener city, including building 340+ miles of bike lanes and removing tens of thousands of parking spots – initiatives that helped decrease 40% of car traffic since 2014. The passing of these votes reflects the willingness of the people to support climate policies and continues as a ‘last legacy’ of Hidalgo, who has been in office since 2014 and will not be taking part in re-elections.   

Petition for European Coast Guard Agency to Save Lives 

In the last ten years, more than 30,000 people seeking safety have died in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the International Organization for Migration. The EU and other European nations have continuously withdrawn responsibility to protect the lives of migrants at sea and on land. Every year, the EU spends millions to get other countries to intercept boats carrying migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees and disembark them in countries where they risk serious human rights abuses. The main actor is the EU-funded European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, which has been criticised for human rights violations, including mistreatment and illegal deportation of migrants. The organisation Human Rights Watch has started a petition calling on the EU to protect the rights and lives of people on the move. They also urge Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens to immediately take accountability and make changes to the system. Sign the petition here to push for action. 

World Water Day | Oil Spill in Ecuador

Saturday, 22 March, marked World Water Day, advocating for sustainable freshwater management internationally. In light of this day, the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) reflects on the past year’s efforts to rehabilitate critical water infrastructure, strengthen flood protection, and promote sustainable water governance to ensure long-term food security and resilience. 16 million people in Yemen depend on agriculture, but irrigation systems have been severely damaged because of environmental degradation and war, driving both food insecurity and vulnerable communities into deeper poverty. The FAO initiated resilience programs such as providing local communities with knowledge and tools to manage water resources sustainably, also advancing gender inclusivity in the process by strengthening women’s roles in water governance. Since its commencement, the project has directly benefited over 21,000 people who experienced improved agricultural activity, highlighting both the success and essentiality of sustainable development and humanitarian aid. 

Last Thursday, Ecuador battled a 200-barrel oil spill spreading to several rivers, affecting over half a million people, leaving thousands without drinking water, and contaminating air quality with evapotranspiration of the oil’s chemical compounds. As well, the province is an ecological sanctuary, a refuge to 250+ wildlife species; the government has declared a state of environmental emergency, as the spill will leave several rivers “dead” for an indefinite period, redirecting the natural development of its ecosystem.

Yemen Hit by US Airstrikes

The US has launched dozens of air strikes on Yemen following Donald Trump’s order for “decisive and powerful” action against the Houthi rebel group. On Thursday, airstrikes killed 79 people, and on Saturday, renewed fire was reported in western Yemen, the Marib province in the east, and the capital, Sana'a. The Iran-backed Houthis have consistently expressed their support for Palestine, attacking Israeli-linked ships in the Red and Arabian seas since the genocide began. When the ceasefire came into effect, they halted attacks. However, with the Israeli army continuing its assault on the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have launched ballistic missiles toward Israel, which were intercepted. The US order can be seen as a response to the Houthi air strikes. On Tuesday, 25 March, the Trump cabinet's discussion on further war plans in Yemen was leaked to the Atlantic editor, Jeffrey Goldberg. In the Signal chat, the government officials were undecided on the next steps, voicing concerns about economic impacts as well as a dislike of their European allies.

Petition Against the Pride Ban in Hungary 

Hungary’s far-right government, led by the Fidesz party and headed by Viktor Orbán, has passed a law prohibiting the organisation and participation in the annual Budapest Pride. A statement issued by the parliament states that the aim is to ban any events that “promote homosexuality, gender-affirming care, and gender identity diverging from the gender assigned at birth”. This move is part of the crackdown on queer rights in Hungary in recent years, including the ban on queer representation in children’s and Young Adult books. Following the announcement of the law, thousands protested in the capital, Budapest. The Budapest Pride organisation has launched a petition that you can sign to express your support for LGBTQIA+ events in Hungary.

Pakistani Authorities Arrest Baloch Activists 

Pakistani authorities have detained 150 Baloch activists, including the chief of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Dr. Mahrang Baloch. The activists, charged with “terrorism”, were arrested at a protest camp they set up in the Balochistan province of the country. The BYC has long been campaigning and advocating against the unlawful detention of Baloch political activists in Pakistan in recent years. In solidarity with Mahrang and the arrested activists, protests took place in the Baluchistan province, blocking roads and calling for the release of the activists. Further arrests were made at those protests. Amnesty International has criticised the arbitrary arrests and detentions of advocates and members of the Baloch ethnic group, calling on the Pakistani authorities to immediately release all activists detained for “exercising their right to peaceful protest”. On Sunday, protests by BYC supporters were met with violence by the local authorities.

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