Bereaved families, wounded IDF veterans and activists from the Zionist organization Im Tirtzu demonstrated on monday outside the Supreme Court in response to petitions filed by far-Left NGOs against the IDF’s defensive operations on the Gaza border.

The demonstrators chained their hands together and stated that the chains represent how the Supreme Court uses petitions filed by far-Left NGOs to tie the hands of soldiers. The demonstrators called to attention that the NGOs petitioning the Supreme Court are all funded by foreign governments and the US-based New Israel Fund.

Last week, the far-Left NGOs “Yesh Din,” “Gisha,” “HaMoked” and “Association for Civil Rights in Israel” submitted a judicial petition against the IDF demanding that it change its rules of engagement in dealing with the violent Gaza riots.

Another petition against the IDF was also submitted by the far-Left NGOs “Adalah” demanding that the military ban all use of snipers on the Gaza border.

The demonstrators chanted slogans accusing the Supreme Court of working in tandem with far-Left NGOs funded by the New Israel Fund and foreign government, including “The Supreme Court: Home of the New Israel Fund” and “Enough of the Supreme Court Dictatorship.”

Herzl and Merav Hajaj, whose daughter Shir Hajaj was murdered last year in a truck ramming attack in Jerusalem, said: “It is absurd that the Supreme Court continues to accept the petitions of these organizations that work to harm IDF soldiers. We cannot bring our Shir back, but we will continue fighting to ensure that these organizations that defend terrorists won’t be able to continue harming IDF soldiers.”

Liran Baruch, head of the Wounded IDF Veterans Forum, stated that his forum stands in solidarity with IDF soldiers. “While our soldiers are protecting us, there are those that want to take away their ability to do so,” said Baruch.

Matan Peleg, CEO of Im Tirtzu, stated that “it is inconceivable that delegitimization organizations are allowed to engage in lawfare against the IDF, courtesy of the New Israel Fund and foreign governments.”

“Rather than acting as the gatekeeper of democracy, the Supreme Court takes advantage of these ridiculous petitions to grab the steering wheel from the government and impose their will on the Israeli people.”

“This phenomenon does not only endanger the future of Israel, but endangers the lives of IDF soldiers in the immediate future,” added Peleg.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Im Tirtzu)