The Jerusalem Human Rights Consortium (JHRC) expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the Israeli occupying authorities’ decision to close the Burj Al-Luqluq Social Center Society in the Old City of Jerusalem for a period of six months. This measure constitutes a grave violation of international law and forms part of a broader, systematic pattern targeting Palestinian civic space in occupied East Jerusalem.

Burj Al-Luqluq is far more than a civil society organization. For decades, it has served as a cornerstone of community resilience, providing essential educational support, cultural programming, sports activities, and psychosocial services to thousands of Palestinian children, youth, men, and women. In a highly coercive and fragile environment, especially in Jerusalem, the Center represents a safe and protective space that promotes dignity, stability, and positive development. Its forced closure on the 17th of February 2026 has immediate and severe consequences on the most vulnerable groups, particularly people with disabilities, children, and women, depriving them of critical services and protection mechanisms.

Itmar Ben-Gvir issued an order under the law for the Implementation of the Interim Agreement regarding the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (Restriction of Activities) in a false claim that the Burj Al-Luqluq is affiliated with or operating on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

Escalating Restrictions Across Jerusalem

This action must be understood within the broader context of escalating restrictive measures across the city, primarily for political gains and the upcoming Israeli elections. Only days prior to the holy month of Ramadan, access restrictions were intensified across the Old City, including limitations on entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque, increased arrests of Waqf employees, and heightened military presence. Such measures, coupled with restrictions on communal and religious practices, further exacerbate an already coercive environment imposed on Palestinians.

Violations of International Law

From a legal perspective, these actions constitute violations of both international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL). As an occupying power, Israel is bound by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits collective punishment (Article 33) and obliges the occupying authority to ensure the welfare and normal life of the protected population. The closure of a vital center serving people cannot be justified under military necessity and may amount to unlawful collective penalties.

Furthermore, such measures violate fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of association, education, culture, and participation in public life, as enshrined in international instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. The targeting of Palestinian civil society institutions also raises serious concerns regarding discriminatory practices and the unlawful restriction of civic space.

A Systematic Pattern of Closure

Since 1967, over one hundred Palestinian organizations in Jerusalem have been forcibly closed under broadly defined “security” justifications and emergency regulations. These closures form part of a systematic policy aimed at shrinking Palestinian civic space through legal, administrative, and financial constraints. The cumulative effect contributes to the erosion of the Palestinian social fabric and undermines the ability of communities to organize, develop, and sustain their presence in the city.

The targeting of institutions such as Burj Al-Luqluq, particularly within the sensitive context of the Old City, must also be viewed against broader policies that risk altering the demographic and cultural character of Jerusalem, including through pressures that weaken and displace established Palestinian community structures and Palestinian land take-over.