(NGOs Joint statement)

Geneva, 16 October 2023

 

The non-governmental organizations endorsing this statement are appalled by the inhumane aggression to which civilians are exposed as a result of the recent escalation within the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We reaffirm our position that the main reason for this escalation is the continuation of the Israeli occupation and the accompanying with serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

 

The Israeli occupying power has continued to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity for decades. The Israeli occupying power has imposed an abhorrent apartheid regime on the Palestinian people. The failure of the international community international to act to end Israel’s illegal occupation has contributed to the continuation of the collective punishment of an entire people.

 

Israeli air operations have destroyed residential areas in the Gaza Strip, including schools and hospitals. Even the schools and buildings of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have not been spared. This has caused countless casualties among the civilian population of Palestine. Thousands of wounded cannot be treated because Israel’s siege has cutoff the supply of basic medical supplies and medicines to Gaza

 

Targeting civilians and cutting off electricity, water and fuel supplies is a collective punishment. This is a war crime that is prohibited by international law applying to both international and non-international armed conflicts.

Israel has called on more than 1 million people in Gaza to relocate to the south within 24 hours despite the fact that the whole of Gaza is under siege and there are already 450,000 this place people in Gaza. Israel’s action constitutes the International crime of ethnic cleansing, a crime against humanity and may constitute genocide.

 

The international community must urgently take decisive action to end Israel’s international crimes. International community must act to end Israel's unlawful occupation of Palestine and ensure the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. The International Criminal Court (ICC) needs to investigate these international crimes and prosecute all those responsible of committing them. International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is considering the State responsibility of Israel for its illegal occupation most emphasize the States their obligation under international law to end the occupation and to ensure the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

 

Endorsing organizations:

- International-Lawyers.Org

- International Organisation for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

- Union of Arab Jurists

- Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR)

- Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration

- Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue

- Egypt Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR)

- Association of Victims of Torture – Geneva

- Human Rights Solidarity

- Free Voice Organisation for Human Rights

- Human Rights Solidarity

- Adala For Human Rights

- Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor

- Brussels Tribunal

- The Iraqi Centre for Human Rights

- Center for My Right for Support the Rights and Freedom

- Die Arabische Organisation für Menschenrechte in Mitteleuropa

- European Palestinian Council for Political Relations- Brussels

- The Bahraini Society of Jurists

- Principle Society for Human Rights

- Al-Marsad Society for Human Rights

- SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties

- AFD International

- Arab Council Foundation

- Women Journalists Without Chains Organization

- American Center for Justice(ACJ)

 

Pic: Aljazeera