Moumen al-Natour
Moumen Raja Yacoub al-Natour (born 12 December 1995) is a Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist based in the Gaza Strip.[1] al-Natour is the founder of the Palestinian Youth for Development.
Activism[edit]
In March 2019, al-Natour was an organizer of the 14th March Movement, which protested Hamas and the economic conditions of the Gaza Strip.[2] The protests were the largest since 2007, when Hamas took control of the region.[2] During the protests, Hamas broke into al-Natour's home, threatened his family, confiscated cell phones, and threatened to arrest people unless al-Natour gave himself up.[3][4] He was subsequently arrested and charged with collaborating with Israel and the Palestinian Authority.[4] He was arrested again in May and in August 2019.[5][6][7]
Since 2019, al-Natour has been involved in the related We Want to Live Movement.[1] He has been involved with protests calling for elections and opportunities for youth in the Gaza Strip.[8]
Al-Natour has been arrested and imprisoned by Hamas 20 times, for his criticism of the group and his attempts to organize protests.[1][9] While imprisoned, al-Natour reported being tortured.[1][9]
Al-Natour has also represented journalists who have been arrested for their criticism of Hamas.[1] Although he is often unable to help those arrested in court, he amplifies their stories on social media, where mass pressure has sometimes led to their releases.[1] Al-Natour has also represented women trying to get out of forced and abusive marriages.[10]
During the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, al-Natour has worked to collect and distribute aid to Palestinians in need.[9] He has expressed doubt that the war would be able to destroy Hamas completely.[9] He supports a postwar leadership model that would center Palestinians from the region who are critical of Hamas, rather than outside aid groups.[9]
Personal life[edit]
Al-Natour and his family live in Al-Shati refugee camp, in central Gaza, but have been displaced to southern Gaza during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.[1][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Sharhani, Yaghoub (2023-11-01). "De meeste Gazanen zijn klaar met de dictatuur van Hamas". De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ a b Knell, Yolande (2019-03-18). "Gaza economic protests expose cracks in Hamas's rule". BBC. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "مساواة تستنكر ملاحقة الزميل المحامي مؤمن الناطور والنشطاء والحقوقيين/ات في غزة" [MUSAWA denounces the Hamas security services’ attacks on peaceful gatherings in Gaza and their persecution of activists and human rights activists.]. musawa.ps (in Arabic). 2019-03-16. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ a b "!التهمة.. إنك بدك تعيش" [The accusation...is that you want to live!]. Al-Arabiya (in Arabic). 2023-01-23.
- ^ "جهاز الأمن الداخلي في محافظة غزة يحتجز المحامي مؤمن الناطور" [The Internal Security Service in the Gaza Governorate detains lawyer Moamen Al-Natour]. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (in Arabic). 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "جهاز الأمن الداخلي في محافظة غزة يحتجز المحامي مؤمن الناطور" [The Internal Security Service in the Gaza Governorate detains lawyer Moamen Al-Natour]. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (in Arabic). 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ ""حماس" تشن حملة اعتقالات ضد نشطاء في غزة" [Hamas launches an arrest campaign against activists in Gaza]. Al Ain (in Arabic). 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Bashir, Fatima (2021-03-06). "هل تصدق الانتخابات وينتهي كابوس العاطلين عن العمل" [Can you believe the elections and end the nightmare of the unemployed?]. Al Shabab Radio (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ a b c d e Weinthal, Benjamin (2023-12-14). "Young generation of anti-Hamas activists in Gaza step up to serve but are snubbed by UN, aid groups". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Arafat, Amjad (2021-09-26). "عذّبها ابن عمها كأسيرة حرب... لعنة ميراث الأب في غزة" [Her cousin tortured her as a prisoner of war...the curse of the “father’s inheritance” in Gaza]. Raseef22 (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Badr Saffarini, Buthaina (2023-10-15). "القصص لا تكتمل.. شهادات متقطّعة من غزة" [Stories are not complete... intermittent testimonies from Gaza]. Ultra Palestine (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-01-04.