News
February 18, 2025
A tribute to Iyad Haddad, Palestinian human rights defender
Shelter City mourns the passing of Iyad Haddad, a Palestinian human rights defender and former guest of Shelter City The Hague. We want to pay tribute to Iyad for his tireless work and commitment to human rights in the West Bank.
Iyad Haddad was a human rights defender, who worked as a field researcher on human rights violations for more than 30 years and was part of the organization B’Tselem since 2001. He conducted field documentation of human rights violations in the West Bank (Ramallah, Jericho, Salfit, and North-West Jerusalem). His main source of information are testimonies and reports taken from witnesses or victims of human rights violations. Over the course of 30 years, Iyad had taken thousands of testimonies which document the stories of victims of human rights violations such as house demolitions, land grabbing, beatings and other forms of harassment.
Despite the severe threats that he faced, Iyad remained resilient and worked tirelessly towards a more just, dignified, and safe world.
Iyad’s stay in Shelter City
During his stay in the Netherlands in 2017, Iyad received much-needed rest and respite. Hosted in Shelter City The Hague, he received training in physical, digital, and organizational security. Iyad participated in events and raised awareness about the human rights situation in his country.
Remembering Iyad
Iyad passed away on 11 February after battling a serious illness. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Iyad’s loved ones, friends, and colleagues at B’Tselem during these difficult times.
We will always remember Iyad as a warm person who spoke with love about the people around him, and an inspiring and impactful human rights defender. We feel honoured to have met him and will never forget his commitment to human rights. His legacy will continue to motivate us all.
