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11 April 2024 - News

OVER 250 HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS JOIN CALL TO END ARMS TRANSFERS TO ISRAEL, PALESTINIAN ARMED GROUPS

NEW YORK11 April 2024A group of more than 250 humanitarian and human rights organisations from across the world– including Palestinian and Israeli groups – are demanding that all States immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel and Palestinian armed groups.  

A statement demanding this action, which was initially issued in January with a signee list that included sixteen major humanitarian and human rights organisations, has in recent months grown substantially as the war in Gaza has worsened. Now, a milestone of over 200 organisations have signed onto the statement, showing the increasing relevance and urgency of this call. 

WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH CHILDREN IN THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST PLACES.

''Gaza today is the most dangerous place to be a child, a journalist, and an aid worker,'' the statement reads. ''Hospitals and schools should never become battlegrounds. These conditions have created a situation of utter desperation inside Gaza, leading top aid officials to declare that there are no longer the conditions for a meaningful humanitarian response in Gaza. This will not change until the siege, the bombardment and the fighting ends.''

The statement calls upon the UN Security Council to ''fulfill its responsibility to maintain global peace and security by adopting measures to halt the transfer of weapons to the Government of Israel and Palestinian armed groups and prevent the supply of arms that risk being used in the commission of international crimes, effective immediately.'' 

The full statement, which include all of the organisations that have signed, can be found below and here.

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JOINT STATEMENT

MORE THAN 250 HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS CALL TO STOP ARMS TRANSFERS TO ISRAEL, PALESTINIAN ARMED GROUPS

AN OPEN CALL TO ALL UN MEMBER STATES TO STOP FUELLING THE CRISIS IN GAZA AND AVERT FURTHER HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE AND LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIFE

 

We, the undersigned organisations, call on all States to immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel and Palestinian armed groups while there is risk they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.

Israel’s bombardment and siege are depriving the civilian population of the basics to survive and rendering Gaza uninhabitable. Today, the civilian population in Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented severity and scale.

VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Furthermore, Palestinian armed group-led attacks killed around 1,200 people and took hundreds of Israeli and foreign hostages, including children, and continue to hold more than 130 hostages captive inside Gaza. Armed groups in Gaza have continued to indiscriminately fire rockets toward population centres in Israel, disrupting school for children, displacing and threatening the lives and well being of civilians. Hostage-taking and indiscriminate attacks are violations of international humanitarian law and must end immediately.

Humanitarian agencies, human rights groups, United Nations officials, and more than 153 member states have called for an immediate ceasefire. However, Israel continues to use explosive weapons and munitions in densely populated areas with massive humanitarian consequences for the people of Gaza. World leaders have urged the Israeli government to reduce civilian casualties, yet Israeli military operations in Gaza continue to kill people at unprecedented levels, according to remarks by the UN Secretary-General. Member states have a legal responsibility to use all possible tools to leverage better protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law. Gaza’s remaining lifeline – an internationally-funded humanitarian aid response – has been paralyzed by the intensity of the hostilities, which have included the shooting of aid convoys, recurrent communications blackouts, damaged roads, restrictions on essential supplies, an almost complete ban on commercial supplies, and a bureaucratic process to send aid into Gaza.

DESTRUCTION AND CIVILIAN HARM

Israel’s military activity has destroyed a substantial portion of Gaza’s homes, schools, hospitals, water infrastructure, shelters, and refugee camps; the indiscriminate nature of these bombings and a pattern of apparently disproportionate civilian harm they routinely cause is unacceptable. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned of the “heightened risk of atrocity crimes” being committed in Gaza and called on all states to prevent such crimes from unfolding. Since this call, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has only deteriorated further:

  • More than 33,000 Palestinians, at least 14,500 of them children, have been killed over the last six months, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Thousands more are buried under the rubble and presumed dead.

  • More than 75,000 people have beeninjured, many with life-changing injuries that will leave them with permanent disabilities; these include more than 1,000 Palestinian children who have lost one or more of their upper or lower limbs.

  • An unknown number of Palestinian civilians, reportedly including children, have been unlawfully detained, according to the UN, and must be released.

  • Palestinians continue to be killed nearly every day in areas the Israeli government told them to flee. In the first week of 2024, an Israeli airstrike killed 14 people – the majority children – near an area Israeli forces prescribed as a “humanitarian zone.”

  • Over 70% of Gaza’s population, around 1.7 million people, has been forcibly displaced. Many followed Israeli-issued orders to relocate south and are now being squeezed into tiny pockets of land that cannot sustain human life, which have become breeding ground for the spread of disease.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FACE STARVATION

  • Half of the population of Gaza - around 1.1 million Palestinians - are facing catastrophic levels of hunger and starvation, the highest number ever recorded by the technical humanitarian body responsible for making evidence-based assessments of food insecurity, with famine now imminent in northern Gaza. The entire population of the Gaza Strip - around 2.2 million people - are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. 

  • More than 70% of Gaza’s homes, much of its schools, and its water and sanitation infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged and left the population with almost no access to clean water.

  • Not a single medical facility in the enclave is fully operational and those partially functioning are overwhelmed with trauma cases and shortages of medical supplies and doctors. More than 489 health workers have been killed.

  • At least 243 aid workers* in Gaza have been killed, the highest of any conflict in this century.

Gaza today is the most dangerous place to be a child, a journalist, and an aid worker. Hospitals and schools should never become battlegrounds. These conditions have created a situation of utter desperation inside Gaza, leading top aid officials to declare that there are no longer the conditions for a meaningful humanitarian response in Gaza. This will not change until the siege, the bombardment and the fighting ends. In January, the United Nations described humanitarian access as a “significant deterioration.” Israeli forces have repeatedly denied permission for aid convoys to reach areas north of Wadi Gaza where people are at the highest risk of starvation.

In recent weeks, high ranking Israeli officials have begun calling for the deportation of Palestinian civilians out of Gaza. The forcible transfer within Gaza and deportation of a portion of the population across borders, lacking any guarantees of return, would constitute a serious violation of international law, amounting to an atrocity crime.

WE DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE

We demand an immediate ceasefire and call on all states to halt the transfer of weapons that can be used to commit violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The UN Security Council must fulfill its responsibility to maintain global peace and security by adopting measures to halt the transfer of weapons to the Government of Israel and Palestinian armed groups and prevent the supply of arms that risk being used in the commission of international crimes, effective immediately.

All states have the obligation to prevent atrocity crimes and promote adherence to norms that protect civilians. The international community is long overdue to live up to these commitments.

Editor’s Note

  • This statement was initially published on 24 January 2024, with the endorsement of 16 humanitarian organisations. Since its publishing, more than 250 civil society organisations around the world have endorsed the call. This statement has been updated to reflect figures that are accurate as of 10 April 2024, including the numbers of people killed, including children, aid workers, and health care workers, the number of those injured, and the latest figures in respect to food insecurity released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification

  • Since the original statement was published on 24 January 2024, the following events have occurred:

    • On 26 January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures in the case of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

    • On 12 February 2024, the Dutch Court ordered the government of Netherlands to stop supplying F35 fighter jet parts to Israel within seven days, due to the risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law. 

    • On 23 February 2024, UN experts released a joint-statement stating that arms exports to Israel must stop immediately, stating, “The need for an arms embargo on Israel is heightened by the International Court of Justice’s ruling on 26 January 2024 that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and the continuing serious harm to civilians since then.” 

    • On 25 March 2024, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2728 demanding an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan. 

    • On 28 March 2024, the ICJ issued additional provisional measures alongside observations of the court that “famine is setting in.”

    • On 5 April 2024, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution to “cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, the occupying Power…to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.”

  • The total number of aid workers killed includes staff members of UN agencies, NGOs, as well as thePalestinian Red Crescent Society. Figures on the annual number of aid workers killed in other context can be found on the Aid Worker Security Database

 

 

 Undersigned

1

Federation Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion

2

War Child Alliance

3

Christian Aid

4

Norwegian People’s Aid

5

Médecins du Monde International Network

6

Mennonite Central Committee

7

medico international

8

Oxfam

9

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)

10

Danish Refugee Council

11

Save the Children

12

Plan International

13

Norwegian Refugee Council

14

Diakonia

15

Amnesty International

16

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

17

Welfare Association

18

War on Want

19

War Childhood Museum Foundation

20

Palestinian Farmers Union

21

WESPAC Foundation, Inc.

22

United Nations Association - UK

23

Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS)

24

Human Rights Sentinel

25

IM Swedish Development Partner

26

Firefly International

27

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

28

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) GE

29

Nonviolent Peaceforce

30

Peace Action

31

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)

32

Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation

33

France Palestine Mental Health Network

34

Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations

35

Syrian Network for Human Rights.

36

INGO ALG CONSULTANT GROUP

37

Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development

38

Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

39

Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)

40

The National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA

41

L'Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP)

42

Development and Peace - Caritas Canada

43

EmpowerVan

44

Train of Hope Dortmund e.V.

45

Jewish Network for Palestine

46

مدافعات للحقوق والحریات والتنمیھ

47

PELDA

48

Ina autra senda - Swiss Friends of Combatants for Peace

49

Street Child UK

50

Polish Medical Mission

51

Peace SOS

52

Gender Advisory Team, Cyprus

53

Olof Palmes Internationella Center

54

Cordaid

55

Street Child España

56

Share The World's Resources

 

57

Church and Peace - Ecumenical Peace Church Network in Europe

58

ForcesWatch

59

Vredesactie

60

Terre des Hommes Netherlands

61

Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights

62

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

63

Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine

64

PAX

65

EuroMed Rights

66

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

67

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

68

The United Church of Canada

69

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

70

CIUSSS Centre-Sud

71

Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy

72

Business Plan for Peace

73

Secours Catholique - Caritas France

74

Danish Muslim Aid

75

Peace Direct

76

Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine (BA4P)

77

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions - UK

78

The Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security

79

Creatura Think & Do Tank

80

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions - Germany

81

Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)

82

The Hague Peace Projects

83

Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

84

Nonviolence International

85

Primate's World Relief and Development Fund

86

Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion

87

The Anglican Church of Canada/L'Eglise anglican du Canada

88

MADRE

89

Ekō

90

ReThinking Foreign Policy

91

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Germany

92

Initiatives et Changement (IofC France)

93

WeWorld

94

Pax Christi - Deutsche Sektion e.V.

95

Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte

96

Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy -CPRA

97

Equal Legal Aid

98

Young Christian Students Movement South Africa

99

Laurentiuskonvent e.V.

100

Socialist Movement of Ghana

101

Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation

102

Japan Fellowship of Reconciliation

103

Action Corps

104

EgyptWide for Human Rights

105

Pax Christi International

106

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) - Greece

107

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

108

KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

109

Committee of 100 in Finland

110

Khulumani Support Group

111

Amos Trust

112

Sanad Basra Organization for Human Rights

113

Association Pour Jérusalem (France)

114

Community of Christ

115

Avaaz

116

Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine

 

117

Women Volunteers for Peace

118

Forum Computer Professionals for Peace and Societal Responsibility

119

Salam For Yemen

120

Vereinigung Demokratischer Juristinnen und Juristen e.V. (VDJ)

121

Association France Palestine Solidarite Paris-Sud

122

Culture de Palestine

123

Emmaus International

124

Kristna Fredsrörelsen / SweFOR

125

Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

126

Medical Association for Prevention of War

127

HelpAge International

128

Quakers in Scotland (General Meeting for Scotland)

129

Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e. V.

130

DAWN MENA

131

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)

132

NVMP-Artsen voor vrede

133

ActionAid France

134

Pax Christi Scotland

135

Shujaa-Initiative

136

Pax Christi Italia

137

Pax Christi - Perú

138

Center for Jewish Nonviolence

139

Peace Movement Aotearoa

140

Center for Peace Education, Miriam College

141

Pax Christi England and Wales

142

Pax Christi Aotearoa NZ

143

Pax Christi Miriam College

144

Age International

145

Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict

146

Arms Information Centre (RIB e.V.)

147

Caritas International Belgium

148

Medact

149

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

150

Feminist Humanitarian Network

151

Saferworld

152

Mwatana for Human Rights

153

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

154

International Alert

155

CIVICUS

156

Internationaler Versöhnungsbund - Deutscher Zweig e.V.

157

Pax Christi USA

158

Caritas Internationalis

159

The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society

160

Humance Heal For Human Rights

161

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

162

Min Haqi Foundation to Empower Women Politically and Economically

163

Yoga and Sport with Refugees

164

Caesar Families Association

165

KinderUSA

166

Ocalenie Foundation

167

Aura Freedom International

168

Finnish-Arab Friendship Society

169

Street Child Italy

170

Rebuilding Alliance

171

Bildungsprojekt Sachsen im Klimawandel

172

Diversity Matters North West Ltd

173

Un Ponte Per

174

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

175

Terre des Hommes Italy

176

Middle East Children's Alliance

 

177

Mercy Corps

178

Permanent Peace Movement

179

Seenaryo

180

Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal (WPD Nepal)

181

Muslim Peace Fellowship

182

UCOS vzw (UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION)

183

Protection International (PI)

184

Women's Right to Education Programme

185

Women in Humanitarian Response in Nigeria Initiative

186

IANSA Women Network Nigeria

187

Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition

188

Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax

189

Tamkeen for Legal Aid & Human Rights

190

Doctors Against Genocide

191

The Rights Forum

192

Women for Peace - Finland

193

Righting Relations Canada

194

Foyer du Monde

195

Bahrain Transparency

196

Rete Italiana Pace Disarmo

197

FundiPau

198

Control Arms

199

Climate Refugees

200

SOL Education Center

201

Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos - México

202

Daraj Media

203

Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL)

204

Mujeres para el Dialogo

205

Pastoral Social, Iglesia Anglicana de México

206

Asociación de familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos y Víctimas de Violaciones a los Derechos Humanos en México AFADEM-FEDEFAM

207

Anti-Prison Feminist Project - Sisters in the Shade (Mexico)

208

Servicio Paz y Justicia (serpaj)-mexico

209

Global Thought

210

American Baptist Churches USA

211

Sojourners

212

Migrant Roots Media

213

Citizens for Just Policy

214

PEOPLES FEDERATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (PEFENAP)

215

Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP)

216

Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas

217

Vision GRAM-International

218

The United Church of Christ

219

Caritas Middle East and North Africa

220

Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient

221

BDS Berlin

222

SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)

223

Women in Black - Austria

224

Collective Aid

225

ReFOCUS Media Labs - Poland

226

Fund for Global Human Rights

227

Omega Research Foundation

228

Women for Weapons Trade Transparency

229

United Against Inhumanity (UAI)

230

Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Palestine Israel Network

231

Terre des Hommes International Federation

232

CCFD-Terre Solidaire

233

COCASEN - Coalición Nacional Contra el Abuso Sexual

234

CARE International

 

235

Fundación Ser de Paz AC

236

Forum o Disarmament and Development of Sri Lanka

237

FTSCD(Forum Togolais de la Société civile pour le Développement)

238

Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

239

MPower Change Action Fund

240

Steirische Friedensplattform

241

Minnesota Peace Project

242

Académicos con Palestina contra el genocidio

243

International Rescue Committee

244

Fundación Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual

245

Broederlijk Delen

246

Coordinadora Galega de ONG para o Desenvolvemento

247

ARSIS Association for the Social Support of Youth

248

Churches for Middle East Peace

249

Educo - Spain

250

MENA Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (MENAPPAC)

251

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) - Lebanon

252

Entraide et Fraternité - Belgium

 

 

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