Two researchers from Human Rights Watch (HRW) have resigned after the organisation blocked a report that found Israel's denial of the right of return for Palestinian refugees constitutes a crime against humanity. Omar Shakir, who led the Israel and Palestine team for nearly a decade, and assistant researcher Milena Ansari stepped down, citing a failure to apply international law without fear of political backlash.
In resignation letters obtained by Jewish Currents and the Guardian, Shakir said he lost faith in HRW's integrity and commitment to principled reporting. The report, completed in August 2025, had undergone standard internal reviews but was paused by leadership in late 2025. HRW stated that aspects of the research needed strengthening to meet its high standards, and the publication was paused pending further analysis.
Internal emails revealed concerns about reputational damage. Chief advocacy officer Bruno Stagno Ugarte warned the report could be misread as a call to end Israel's Jewish character, while acting program director Tom Porteous questioned how to deploy the argument without undermining HRW's credibility as a neutral monitor. Shakir argued that the right of return remains a 'third rail' even within HRW, with an unwillingness to apply the law and facts.
HRW's new executive director, Philippe Bolopion, who contributed to HRW's 2021 apartheid report, said the disagreement was a good-faith debate on complex legal questions and reaffirmed HRW's commitment to the right of return. The resignations have shaken the prominent human rights group as Bolopion begins his tenure.
