Press Release
Continued Restriction on Access and Prevention of Activities in the Youth Village for Over 900 Days

Sharek Youth Forum condemns the ongoing restrictions imposed on access to the Youth Village and the prevention of implementing activities and programs there for more than 900 consecutive days by settlers and occupation forces. This constitutes a clear violation of the rights to civic engagement, education, and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed under international human rights law.

Over the past years, the Youth Village has served as a safe and open civic space for youth, children, and women, and as a vital hub for learning, community engagement, and capacity building. However, the continuation of these restrictions has transformed this space from one of hope into a closed site, depriving thousands of beneficiaries of their right to access and participation.

These practices represent a direct targeting of civic and educational spaces and undermine the role of community-based organizations in empowering youth and strengthening their resilience, particularly under the exceptional circumstances faced by Palestinian society.

Accordingly, we at Sharek Youth Forum affirm the following:

- We firmly reject the continued restriction of access to the Youth Village and the prevention of activities within it.
- We call for the immediate lifting of all restrictions and for ensuring safe and continuous access for beneficiaries and staff.
- We hold settlers and occupation forces fully responsible for these violations and their consequences.
- We call on the international community and human rights organizations to uphold their responsibilities in protecting civic spaces in Palestine.
- We reaffirm the right of youth to access safe spaces for learning and participation without restrictions or threats.

The continuation of this situation is not only a violation of fundamental rights but also a real test of the international community’s commitment to protecting civic space and ensuring freedom of civil society work.

Sharek Youth Forum
Palestine

05/05/2026