Shawan Jabarin, executive director of Al-Haq, was blocked from leaving the occupied West Bank on Friday when Israeli forces stopped him at the Allenby Bridge crossing into Jordan.
Allenby Bridge Travel Stop
Israeli Occupying Forces detained Jabarin at the border crossing and informed him of an active restriction on his movement. According to Al-Haq, officers asked him about his travel plans before turning him back.
The restriction prevents the director of the prominent Palestinian human rights group from heading into Jordan or taking flights abroad. Human Rights Watch confirmed that authorities formalized the international travel ban on the same date.
In 2006, authorities barred him from travel for six years using undisclosed evidence, a restriction that kept him from accepting the Geuzenpenning Prize in the Netherlands on behalf of his organization.
Escalation of Civil Society Restrictions
Advocacy groups framed the border stop as part of a broader campaign against legal defenders. Omar Shakir, executive director of DAWN, called the decision an escalation against international law.
“Israel’s travel ban against the head of one of the most respected civil society organizations in Palestine and across the world is the latest escalation in its all-out assault on human rights advocacy and international law,” said Shakir.
Did You Know? According to data from the Israeli human rights group HaMoked, the military maintains active travel bans on an estimated 10,000 Palestinians at any given time.
Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, Israel-Palestine director at DAWN, urged lawmakers to address the situation. “Members of Congress should make clear that the persecution of human rights defenders and attempts to silence civil society are not in line with American values,” said Omer-Man.
Balkees Jarrah, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, described the measure as a punitive step. “Israeli authorities’ travel ban against Shawan Jabarin, among the most prominent human rights defenders in Palestine, reflects a vindictive effort to punish those advocating for victims of serious crimes,” said Jarrah.
Opaque Military Procedures
Border restrictions in the West Bank operate through military channels tied to the Shin Bet secret police. HaMoked notes that the administrative review process typically relies on classified information withheld even from defense lawyers.
Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at DAWN, criticized the broader impact of the border controls. “Israel is yet against silencing Palestinians and trying to stop the world from hearing their testimony,” said Jarrar.
Questions About Shawan Jabarin's Border Stop and Travel Bans
Why was Shawan Jabarin stopped at the border?
Israeli forces stopped Jabarin at the Allenby Bridge on November 13, 2026, informing him that he was prohibited from crossing into Jordan or traveling outside Palestine.
What previous travel restrictions has Jabarin faced?
Israel previously imposed a six-year travel ban on Jabarin starting in 2006, which prevented him from traveling to the Netherlands to accept a human rights award on behalf of Al-Haq.
How many Palestinians are currently affected by similar bans?
According to data from the Israeli human rights group HaMoked, the Israeli military maintains active travel bans on roughly 10,000 Palestinians at any given time.
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