Rifat Kassis is a Palestinian human rights and political and community activist. He is an author and speaker. He has been arrested and imprisoned several times by Israel.

Born in Beit Sahour to a Palestinian Christian family, he founded in 1991 the Palestinian section of the international child rights organisation, Defence for Children International (DCI) and in 2005 he was elected President of the international movement. In October 2008, he was re-elected President for another term. In 2014, he concluded his work as General Director of Defence for Children International Palestine and moved temporarily to Jordan to lead the Lutheran World Federation program there.