Former HRW director resigns over blocked report, says refusal to publish sets ‘dangerous precedent’

A senior Human Rights Watch official has resigned after the organization blocked the publication of a report that classifies Israel’s denial of the Palestinian right of return as a crime against humanity, calling the move a “very worrying precedent.” Omar Shakir, HRW’s former Israel-Palestine director, told Anadolu that the fully vetted report was pulled on the eve of its release without legal or factual justification, raising serious questions about the organization’s commitment to its founding principles.

A Fully Vetted Report Blocked at the Last Minute

Shakir, who worked at HRW for a decade, said the report had undergone the organization’s rigorous review process—including translation, coding, and approval by multiple divisions—before being halted by new executive director Philippe Bolopion. Along with assistant researcher Milena Ansari, Shakir stepped down in protest. “This was a decision made by a new leadership that I think really sets a very worrying precedent,” he said, adding that HRW’s leadership refused to allow revisions or resubmission.

The Report’s Legal Basis and Internal Pushback

The report applied international legal standards to Israel’s decades-long refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homes—a right enshrined in international law and reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice. Shakir noted that HRW had reached similar crime‑against‑humanity determinations in other contexts, such as the forced displacement of the Chagossian people. Internal objections, he said, centered on fears of being seen as challenging Israel’s Jewish character and a preference to focus only on post‑2023 displacements rather than the historical Nakba.

HRW’s Response and Broader Context

In a statement to Anadolu, HRW said the report “raised complex and consequential issues” and required further analysis to meet its “high standards.” The organization emphasized its ongoing commitment to work on Israel‑Palestine. The internal clash highlights growing tensions within major rights groups as they face heightened political scrutiny over reporting on Palestine, especially during Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians.