More than 100 global philanthropic foundations and individual donors on Tuesday joined a growing chorus of human rights advocates who have condemned Israel for its recent decision to label six prominent Palestinian civil society groups as "terrorist organizations," and stressed that the apartheid regime's move will not affect their funding decisions.

The punitive classification, issued last month by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, targeted a half-dozen groups—Addameer, AlHaq, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International - Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees—that serve millions of Palestinians living in the occupied territories.

"This designation criminalizes the work of these organizations and allows the closure of their offices, seizing of files and equipment, and arresting of staff members, as well as aim[s] to criminalize those who fund or support them in other ways," a coalition of dozens of philanthropic foundations and individual donors, most of them based in the United States, wrote in an open letter.

"Foundations and international donors play an essential role in supporting communities on the forefront of promoting social justice across the globe, particularly in areas where the well-being and human rights of marginalized peoples are most threatened," the coalition added. "In Palestine, civil society organizations fill essential roles in providing services, advocating for human rights, protecting land and water resources, and speaking out against the ongoing occupation and violations of international laws."

Read the full article about Khuman rights and Palestine by Kenny Stancil at Common Dreams.