24 October 2024 – We, the undersigned organisations, appeal to all UN member states to secure an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the region, and to end the impunity that has allowed atrocities by Israeli forces against civilians to continue and escalate. Without accountability, there will be no red lines and no rock bottom. 

Israel’s war in Gaza, following the deadly attacks by Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023, is the latest and most horrific onslaught of violence in the decades-long Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. After a year of unfathomable killing and destruction, patterns of civilian harm by Israeli forces are spreading and escalating from Gaza to Lebanon, while rocket attacks by armed groups in Lebanon continue. We are now on the precipice of even greater devastation across the region.

Failure to act now is a choice – a choice that will fail to stop and prevent future atrocities. The UN Commission of Inquiry concluded last week that Israel has committed war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination with relentless and deliberate attacks on medical personnel and facilities in Gaza, and called on member states to “cease aiding or assisting in the commission of violations.”

Over the last 12 months, the UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Gaza, including one calling for a ceasefire, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Genocide Convention. The ICJ also issued an Advisory Opinion that found that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory is illegal, and the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding that Israel end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) within 12 months. Despite this, none of these measures have been implemented or adhered to. 
 
The international community’s egregious disregard for international law and the government of Israel’s unchecked impunity in Gaza, the West Bank and now Lebanon, has set dangerous new precedents for the conduct of war.

For civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon and Israel this has resulted in: 

  • Israeli military actions killing over 43,000 Palestinians across the oPt and more than 2,000 people in Lebanon. 
  • Israeli forces issuing displacement orders covering over 84% of Gaza's territory and now 25% of Lebanon’s territory. These orders, combined with Israel’s bombardment, have forcibly displaced around 90% of Gaza's population and over 800,000 people in Lebanon. 
  • An estimated 400,000 Palestinians are under siege and relentless bombardment in northern Gaza without access to food, water, fuel, or medical care. (UNRWA)
  • The killing of over 300 Palestinian and international aid workers, and over 1,000 health care workers in Gaza and 95 in Lebanon. UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon are also coming under attack by Israeli forces (UNIFIL). Israeli military attacks on hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have decimated the health care system in Gaza, and are destroying it in Lebanon – leaving millions without access to care.
  • Countless children and adults are dying of malnutrition and facing the risk of starvation, directly induced by the Israeli government’s siege on Gaza, which includes systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid and essential services. (IPC)
  • The killing of nearly 1,200 people in Israel during the Palestinian armed group led attacks on October 7, 2023 (OCHA). 
  • Rockets fired by Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups have killed and injured dozens of people (Amnesty International) and displaced over 140,000 Israelis.
  • 101 hostages remain held by Palestinian armed groups, and thousands of Palestinians are unlawfully detained by Israeli forces in detention centers, including children, many whose whereabouts are unknown and have effectively disappeared.

Many among us have repeatedly called for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, hostage release, a halt to arms transfers, and de-escalation of tensions in the region, and yet the violence only appears to be intensifying. Again, we call on all Heads of State and Governments, the UN Security Council, and actors on the ground to prioritise the preservation of human life above all else by:

  • Securing an immediate ceasefire by all parties to the conflict and an end to the indiscriminate attacks that kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure;
  • Halting the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to parties to the conflict that may be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law (IHL);
  • Enabling unhindered humanitarian access for the delivery of lifesaving assistance, including food, medical supplies and fuel, and the safe movements of civilians and aid workers.
  • Ensuring the protection of civilians from further forced displacement, and the right to return for those forcibly displaced. Civilians who choose to stay or are unable to leave remain protected under international law.
  • Securing the release of all hostages and detainees.

Immediately activating independent international investigations into all apparent violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes committed by all parties. 

Governments must do everything in their power to end this growing catastrophe and cycle of impunity. It is not only a moral imperative but a legal obligation. All Member States must prevent further atrocities and ensure that those responsible for any violations of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are held accountable. Failure to act now risks further eroding international norms and emboldening perpetrators. The cycle of violence against civilians needs to stop.

Signatories:

  1. ABCD Bethlehem
  2. Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR)
  3. AFSC, American Friends Service Committee
  4. ALEF – act for human rights
  5. Alternatives Internationales
  6. Amos Trust
  7. Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
  8. Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem
  9. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz (ACPP)
  10. Asociación Otra Escuela
  11. Association Switzerland-Palestine (Gesellschaft Schweiz-Palästina)
  12. Avaaz
  13. Baytna pour le soutien de la société civile
  14. Belgium Palestine Mental Health Network
  15. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
  16. Caritas Internationalis
  17. Caritas MONA (Middle East and North Africa)
  18. CCFD-Terre Solidaire
  19. Children Not Numbers
  20. Christian Aid
  21. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
  22. CIVICUS
  23. Clowns Without Borders Sweden
  24. Clowns Without Borders UK
  25. CNCD-11.11.11
  26. Collective Aid
  27. Comisión de Justicia y Paz de Confregua
  28. Cordaid
  29. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
  30. Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu)
  31. Danish Refugee Council
  32. DAWN
  33. Egala Association
  34. Emmaus International
  35. Equal Legal Aid
  36. EuroMed Rights Network
  37. Europe Cares e.V.
  38. European Alternatives
  39. Fellowship of Reconciliation – USA
  40. Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid
  41. Firefly International
  42. Forces Watch
  43. FORO SALUD NACIONAL
  44. France Palestine Mental Health Network
  45. FSMAGH (Forum des alternatives Maroc – FMAS)
  46. Fund for Global Human Rights
  47. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
  48. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
  49. Global Witness
  50. Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
  51. HelpAge International
  52. Hivos
  53. Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS"/Palestine
  54. Human Rights Sentinel
  55. Human Security Collective
  56. Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International
  57. ICNA SISTERS CANADA
  58. Initiatives et Changement
  59. International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
  60. International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
  61. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
  62. International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)
  63. International Peace Bureau (IPB)
  64. INTERSOS
  65. Ireland Palestine Mental Health Network
  66. Islamic Relief Worldwide
  67. Jewish Network for Palestine
  68. Jewish Voice for Peace-Health Advisory Council
  69. KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
  70. Kenya Human Rights Commission
  71. KinderUSA
  72. Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law
  73. Lebanese Center for human Rights
  74. MADRE
  75. Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax
  76. Médecins du Monde International Network
  77. medico international
  78. Medicus Mundi Italia
  79. Migrant Roots Media
  80. Minnesota Peace Project
  81. Movement for community-led Development
  82. MPower Change Action Fund
  83. Muslim Association of Brantford
  84. Muslim Delegates and Allies
  85. Musulmanas de Guatemala por Palestina
  86. NO NAME KITCHEN
  87. Nonviolence International
  88. Nonviolent Peaceforce
  89. Norwegian Refugee Council
  90. Olof Palmes Internationella Center
  91. Omega Research Foundation
  92. Oxfam
  93. Palestinian Assoc. of Brantford
  94. PAX
  95. Pax Christi Australia
  96. Pax christi Deutsche Sektion
  97. Pax Christi England and Wales
  98. Pax Christi Flanders
  99. Pax Christi International
  100. Pax Christi Scotland
  101. Pax Christi USA
  102. Peace Boat
  103. Peace Direct
  104. Peace SOS
  105. Peace Watch Switzerland
  106. Peace, Justice, Sustainability, NOW!
  107. People's Health Movement (PHM)
  108. Permanent Peace Movement
  109. Plan International
  110. Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine
  111. Polish Medical Mission
  112. Première Urgence Internationale
  113. Progressive Democrats of Pennsylvania
  114. Protection International
  115. PVE Works
  116. Quakers in Scotland (Religious Society of Friends)
  117. Resource Centre for human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED)
  118. ReThinking Foreign Policy
  119. Rethinking Security
  120. Righting Relations Canada
  121. Saferworld
  122. SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties
  123. Seenaryo
  124. Share The World's Resources
  125. SOS Children's Villages UK
  126. Ster Organization for human development
  127. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
  128. Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights
  129. Terre des Hommes Netherlands
  130. The Advocacy Academy
  131. The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security
  132. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation
  133. The International Federation for Rights and Development – IFRD
  134. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
  135. The Namibia NGO Forum Trust
  136. The National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA
  137. The socio-economic Justice Initiative-MAAN
  138. The Syria Campaign
  139. Train of Hope Dortmund e. V.
  140. UK Palestine Mental Health Network
  141. United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK)
  142. University Network for Human Rights
  143. US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)
  144. Vision GRAM-International
  145. War Child
  146. WESPAC Foundation, Inc.
  147. WeWorld
  148. WILPF US
  149. Women for Women International
  150. Women's International League for Peace & Freedom-Minnesota, USA, Branch
  151. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
  152. Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
  153. مؤسسة لاجلك للاستجابة والتنميه
  154. مؤسسة مدافعات للحقوق والحريات


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