Palestinian rights group says Israel barred its director from travelling abroad

Israel stopped Shawan Jabarin, director of Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq, at the Allenby Bridge crossing on Friday and barred him from travelling to Jordan, the group said. Al-Haq says the restriction is politically motivated and connected to Jabarin’s human rights advocacy.

The group said Israeli forces questioned Jabarin about his journey before telling him he could not travel. It cited earlier restrictions, including a ban imposed in 2006 that remained in force for six years before being temporarily lifted in 2012, and said he was prevented from travelling to the Netherlands in 2009 to receive a human rights award. Al-Haq also referred to a warning call from Israel’s Shin Bet in 2022.