Two Quit Human Rights Watch Over Shelved Report Criticizing Israel

Two members of Human Rights Watch's Israel-Palestine team, Omar Shakir and Milena Ansari, resigned in February 2026 over a delayed report. The report, authored by Shakir, concluded that Israel's denial of Palestinian refugees' right to return constitutes a crime against humanity. Human Rights Watch described the report as a draft paused for further analysis under its new executive director, Philippe Bolopion. The report addresses the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948 and their subsequent inability to return, a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel argues that allowing the return of millions of refugees and their descendants would threaten its Jewish majority.

Omar Shakir, the Israel-Palestine director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), resigned on February 3, 2026, citing the organization's decision to block a report he authored. The report accused Israel of committing "crimes against humanity" by denying Palestinian refugees the right of return, connecting the erasure of refugee camps with the broader assault on UNRWA. Shakir stated the report was ready for publication in December but was halted by HRW's Executive Director, Philippe Bolopion, who feared misinterpretation. Shakir's resignation letter, dated January 15, expresses his loss of faith in HRW's commitment to principled reporting. HRW acknowledged receiving resignations from two individuals working on Israel-Palestine following the decision to pause the report's publication.

Two Human Rights Watch (HRW) researchers, the entirety of the organization's Israel and Palestine team, resigned after HRW leadership blocked the release of a report. The report deemed Israel's denial of Palestinian refugees' right of return a "crime against humanity." The researchers, Omar Shakir and Milena Ansari, cited a break from customary approval processes and a prioritization of political considerations over international law as reasons for their departure. HRW stated that the report required further strengthening of its research and factual basis to meet the organization's standards, leading to a pause in publication. The resignations have sparked controversy within HRW, particularly as a new executive director begins his term. The core disagreement centers around the application of international law to the Palestinian right of return.