ICSPR Calls for Respecting Freedom of Expression and Halting Incitement Against Activists and Journalists in the Gaza Strip
Date: January 23, 2026
Press Release
ICSPR Calls for Respecting Freedom of Expression and Halting Incitement Against Activists and Journalists in the Gaza Strip
The International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (ICSPR) is following with grave concern the incitement campaigns targeting activists, journalists, and citizens because of their views or their calls for the peaceful expression of their suffering and demands in the Gaza Strip, amid the harsh humanitarian and living conditions endured by the population as a result of the ongoing war, blockade, displacement, and the deterioration of basic living conditions.
In this context, ICSPR affirms that the multifaceted and complex crisis in the Gaza Strip involves the overlapping effects of Israeli aggression, blockade, and widespread destruction, along with the repercussions of the Palestinian internal division and the absence of comprehensive national solutions. This situation requires a responsible national approach that prioritizes the protection of society, the safeguarding of rights and freedoms, and the strengthening of internal cohesion, away from incitement and the exchange of accusations. The strength of Palestinian society lies not only in its resilience in the face of aggression, but also in its ability to manage internal differences peacefully and democratically, respect political and intellectual pluralism, and safeguard public rights, freedoms, and civil peace as essential pillars of any inclusive national project.
While reaffirming that the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly, and participation in public affairs are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights instruments, and that the peaceful exercise of these rights must be protected and respected, free from any attempts at incitement, ICSPR records and stresses the following:
- ICSPR reiterates its rejection of any rhetoric or practices involving threats, incitement, or targeting of journalists, activists, or citizens because of their opinions, positions, or peaceful activities, as such practices undermine freedom of expression and threaten civil peace and social cohesion.
- ICSPR warns against turning disagreements over popular mobilization into a state of internal polarization or social tension, emphasizing that such differences must be managed in a peaceful and responsible manner that preserves civil peace and prevents any slide into internal confrontations, violence, or chaos, which would only exacerbate citizens’ suffering and directly or indirectly serve the Israeli occupation.
- ICSPR calls on the governmental authorities and competent bodies in the Gaza Strip to respect the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and peaceful assembly, ensure the safety of participants in any peaceful public activities, and refrain from any measures or practices that may restrict public freedoms or expose citizens to persecution, arrest, or assault because of their opinions or peaceful activities.
- ICSPR calls on all political forces, national factions, activists, influencers, and media outlets to uphold the peaceful nature of any public mobilization, reject all forms of incitement, work to protect civil peace and strengthen social cohesion, and avoid anything that may provoke strife or deepen internal divisions.
- ICSPR calls for the development of an inclusive national discourse that recognizes citizens’ right to express their suffering and legitimate demands, safeguards public rights and freedoms, and keeps national priorities focused on ending the aggression, lifting the blockade, allowing humanitarian aid to enter, and providing the means for relief, reconstruction, and justice for victims.
International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (ICSPR)
