# This Palestine Researcher RESIGNED From Human Rights Watch Over Blocked Report Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vadkNi4HW0 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/_vadkNi4HW0 Generated: 2026-02-12T14:33:56.14+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Omar Shakir, the former Human Rights Watch (HRW) Director for Israel and Palestine, resigned after HRW blocked his report that accused Israel of committing the crimes of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity concerning the denial of the Palestinian right of return, which Shakir asserts is a fundamental human right. **Key Points:** - Omar Shakir resigned from his role as HRW Director for Israel and Palestine after the organization blocked his report accusing Israel of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. - The blocked report focused specifically on Israel's denial of the Palestinian right of return, which Shakir considers a fundamental human right that should not be denied based on political preference. - Shakir noted that the report was ready for publication in December after taking seven months to draft and involved interviews with numerous displaced Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. - Ken Roth, HRW's legendary former Executive Director, allegedly told Shakir that the report's claim of 'crime against humanity' regarding the denial of return could come off as 'novel and unsupported legal theory.' - Shakir revealed that the decision to block the report was not based on the facts or the legal analysis, but rather stemmed from a concern about being seen as challenging the 'Jewishness of the Israeli State,' indicating political preference over human rights documentation. - The former HRW director stated that he and his colleagues often disagreed but maintained fidelity to their core work, which this decision appeared to undermine. - Shakir expressed that the denial of the right of return to Palestinians, including those displaced in 1948 and 1967, amounts to a severe abuse of fundamental rights. ![Screenshot at 0:00: Mehdi Hasan introducing the topic on his show, with the White House visible in the background, setting the stage for a discussion on US-related political and human rights issues.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_vadkNi4HW0/00-00-00.jpg) **Context:** The video features an interview between host Mehdi Hasan and Omar Shakir, the former HRW Director for Israel and Palestine. The discussion centers on Shakir's resignation from HRW following the organization's decision to block a comprehensive report he authored detailing alleged Israeli actions against Palestinians, specifically focusing on the denial of the right of return. ## Detailed Analysis Omar Shakir resigned from his position as Human Rights Watch (HRW) Director for Israel and Palestine after the organization blocked a report he authored accusing Israel of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity concerning the denial of the Palestinian right of return. Shakir stated the report was based on extensive documentation, including interviews with displaced Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, and that the denial of this right is a violation of fundamental human rights that should not be subject to political preference. He mentioned that HRW's former Executive Director, Ken Roth, suggested the claim of 'crime against humanity' related to the right of return was 'novel and unsupported legal theory,' and that the decision to shelve the report was not fact-based but politically motivated, fearing it challenged the 'Jewishness of the Israeli State.' Shakir confirmed that the report had been in process for a year and was ready for release in December, but was stopped just before publication. He contrasted this decision with previous HRW actions, noting that other instances of ethnic cleansing and displacement (like in Myanmar or the 1948/1967 displacements) were reported without similar internal interference. He felt his duty was to the victims whose stories were not being told, concluding that the organization's pragmatism, rather than its commitment to human rights, dictated the decision. ### Resignation Catalyst - Omar Shakir resigned after HRW blocked his report accusing Israel of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity regarding the denial of Palestinian right of return. ### The Blocked Report - The report, taking a year to compile, detailed Israeli denial of the right of return and was based on interviews with displaced Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. ### Internal Pushback - Former HRW Executive Director Ken Roth argued the 'crime against humanity' claim related to the right of return was 'novel and unsupported legal theory.' ### Shakir's Justification for Resignation - Shakir believes the blocking was due to fear of challenging the 'Jewishness of the Israeli State,' which he contrasts with HRW's previous willingness to report on similar issues elsewhere. ### Personal Experience - Shakir noted that his personal experiences, including visiting refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan and witnessing the aftermath of massacres in Cairo, informed his deep commitment to this issue. ### Future Direction - Shakir expressed his continued commitment to advocacy, emphasizing that the world needs courageous human rights work now more than ever, and that his duty remains to the victims whose stories are suppressed. ![Screenshot at 0:00: Mehdi Hasan begins the interview with Omar Shakir, with the White House backdrop suggesting a focus on US policy implications.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_vadkNi4HW0/00-00-00.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:28: Mehdi Hasan asks Omar Shakir to explain why he resigned after a decade at Human Rights Watch.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_vadkNi4HW0/00-00-28.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:35: The studio shot showing the desk and the screen displaying Omar Shakir during his remote interview.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_vadkNi4HW0/00-00-35.jpg) ![Screenshot at 1:27: Omar Shakir details the context of the report, linking it to ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank and the denial of the right of return.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_vadkNi4HW0/00-01-27.jpg) ![Screenshot at 2:29: Mehdi Hasan questions Shakir about the political implications of HRW's decision, noting the report's seriousness.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/_vadkNi4HW0/00-02-29.jpg)