Jerusalem:Civil society organizations have expressed strong condemnation over the renewed closure of the Burj al-Luqluq Community Association in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem. This decision, made by Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, extends the closure for six months and has raised concerns about escalating restrictions on Palestinian civil, social, and cultural institutions in the city.
According to Maan News Agency, the Palestinian NGO Network and the Jerusalem Human Rights Organizations Coalition issued a joint statement criticizing the closure order, which was issued on November 9. They noted that this action follows a previous closure on February 17, 2026, and coincides with the recent shutdown of the Sons of Jerusalem Club in the Al-Sa'diyya neighborhood and the cancellation of a cultural event by the Jerusalem Heritage Youth Forum at the Al-Hakawati Theater.
The organizations highlighted the critical role of the Stork Tower Center, which has been providing educational, sports, cultural, psychological, and social services for decades. In 2025, the center supported over 2,000 children, 3,055 young people and adolescents, and 500 women. They warned that the suspension of the association's programs would deprive beneficiaries of essential community spaces and opportunities for social development.
The closure order, based on the 1994 Implementation of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip (Restriction of Activities) Law, alleges links to the Palestinian Authority and prohibits the association's activities, while exempting the kindergarten's operations. The order is effective for six months, with a seven-day period for objections ending on November 16.
Both organizations emphasized the need for restrictions on civil society activities to align with international humanitarian and human rights law, stressing the importance of freedom of association and cultural participation. They also referenced Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits collective punishment, as critical for assessing broader community impacts of the closures.
The NGO Network and the Jerusalem Human Rights Institutions Coalition called on diplomatic missions, UN agencies, and international organizations to take coordinated action to cancel the closure orders and resume community activities. They urged documentation of the closures' impact on various community members and advocated for sustained diplomatic efforts to support Palestinian civic space in Jerusalem.