Israel Bars Palestinian Rights Advocate Sha'wan Jabarin From Travel

Israeli authorities on Friday prevented Sha'wan Jabarin, the Director General of the Palestinian organization Al-Haq, from traveling to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge crossing. Al-Haq stated that the decision targets Jabarin's human rights work, his efforts to document Israeli violations, and his attempts to hold officials accountable before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Security personnel at the crossing informed Jabarin of the travel ban, citing "security reasons" as the justification provided by the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency. Jabarin indicated that the ban coincided with his preparations to attend a meeting of the States Parties to the ICC, scheduled for later in November. He believes these actions are intended to distract human rights workers with self-defense instead of allowing them to pursue accountability for violations. Al-Haq described the travel ban as part of a pattern of measures and threats against its Director General due to his human rights advocacy, noting his role as an arbitrator at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The organization recalled that Jabarin faced Shin Bet threats in 2022 and a previous six-year travel ban from 2006 to 2012. Al-Haq linked the current ban to pressure on Palestinian human rights organizations, including U.S. sanctions imposed in September 2025, over their cooperation with the ICC. Human Rights Watch condemned the travel ban as a retaliatory measure against human rights defenders and urged governments to support Palestinian rights groups and protect their staff. Al-Haq called on the international community and partner nations to pressure Israel to lift the ban and cease actions hindering the work of Palestinian human rights organizations.