Women, human rights groups call for boycott of American embassies

AMMAN — Women and human rights groups have called on the civil society to boycott the American embassies in the region in response to the US administration’s support of Israel in its war against the Gaza Strip.

The call was made in a statement signed by 53 local and Arab organisations and made available to the press on Sunday.

“Today the American position has gone beyond bias towards the occupying state [of Israel], to involvement in war crimes in Gaza, full partnership with the occupation, disregard for the rules of international humanitarian law,” the statement said.

The American administration also “placed pressure on Arab countries to accept another displacement of Palestinians in Gaza”, the statement said

The statement said “there would be no justification or acceptance for the organisations that depend on US funding to continue their cooperation”.

Instead, signatories called for a permanent boycott of the American embassies by not attending its activities and events and rejecting its official invitations. 

The statement also called for the halt of funding provided by the US government and its agencies.

“We also call on human rights activists to return any award they have received from the US government and its embassies worldwide,” the statement said.   

Local activists and human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the US and Western “biased stand towards Israel and the double standard positions they have adopted towards the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip”.

The Israeli assaults on Gaza since October 7 have resulted in the death of over 11,180 Palestinians.

The Israeli aggression also led to the destruction of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure, healthcare facilities and services, causing displacement and power outages and depriving some 2 million people of clean water, food, medical supplies and fuel.