On May 31 and June 1, 2010, Hamas raided six NGO offices in Gaza, confiscating equipment, documents, and the keys to the buildings. According to the Jerusalem Post, the NGOs were not told why they were being shut down. A representative from one group said, “There seems to be confusion as to the reason for this action… Until now, no official position was communicated to us.” NGOs targeted by Hamas include Sharek Youth Forum (funded by the European Commission), Bonat Al-Mustaqbal (Future Builders) Society, the South Society for Women’s Health, the Women and Children Society, the Palestinian Mini Parliament, and the National Reconciliation Committee.

The raids were condemned by Gaza-based NGOs Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al Mezan, and by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry. In contrast, Human Rights Watch, which had condemned Israel for alleged “official intolerance of dissent” as a “real threat to civil society in Israel,” did not comment on these Hamas’ violations.