West Bank, ALRAY - 22 members of US congress faulted Israeli occupation authorities storming and closing Palestinian civil societies.

Members of congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, condemning Israel classifying Palestinian civil society as terrorist organizations.

Lack of evidences that back Israel’s measures provoke concerns that it may be a repressive measure designed to criminalize and silence prominent and core Palestinian human rights organizations, the letter read.

The letter called US to speak about the efforts that all countries pay to undermine civil society and the necessary work of humanitarian organizations.

It explained that the sixth Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations, Addameer, Al-Haq, Defense for children international Palestine, Union of agricultural work committees, Bisan center for research and development, Union of Palestinian women committee, that works directly with Palestinians.

It stressed that Anti-terror legislation must not be applied against legitimate human rights and humanitarian activities, and repressive methods must not be used to criminalize organizations to suppress or deny the right to freedom of association, suppress political opposition, or limit the peaceful activities of civil society.

 The members recommended in their letter to submit a report about the work of these organizations within 30 months.

The members Eleanor Holmes Norton, James Waters, Betty McCollum, Rashida Tlaib, Donald Payne Jr., Hank Johnson, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Corey Bush signed on the letter.