The 7th of October 2023 marked the beginning of a year of destruction challenging our common humanity. Hamas carried out horrific attacks against Israel, resulting in over 1200 people being killed and over 200 taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a war in Gaza that, to date, has killed over 40,000 people, and according to many international voices, including the International Court of Justice, risks constituting genocide.
For a year now, we have been receiving reports of the suffering in Gaza. Of bombed schools, hospitals, and refugee camps. Of dead and injured children, an escalating starvation crisis, the collapse of healthcare, and a severe shortage of clean water. Of how miscarriages have increased, of caesarean sections without anaesthesia, and of starving newborns as mothers are too malnourished to produce breast milk. The people of Gaza are living in a nightmare, and dying in a nightmare. In this nightmare, the local organisations we support continue to work. Women’s organisations that have now shifted to humanitarian aid, delivering hygiene kits, food, diapers, and blankets. 70% of those killed since October 7 are women and children. The needs are endless.
This year of destruction will have consequences for generations to come. The ongoing war is raising a generation without hope for peace. We are now gravely concerned about how the war is spreading to the West Bank and the war in Lebanon is severely escalating with devastating civilian suffering, where over one million people have been forced to flee their homes. Here, too, our partner organisations are mobilising and doing what they can to support those affected.
But the conflict and the violence in Israel and Palestine didn’t begin on October 7, 2023, and a ceasefire in Gaza alone is not enough for achieving lasting peace. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and that Israel is committing systematic human rights violations. Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, as well as the illegal settlements in the West Bank, have for a long time constituted violations of international law and severe violations against Palestinians’ human rights.
Violence against civilians is always horrific and indefensible. We continue to urge for a permanent ceasefire, and demand world leaders to invest all efforts in the pursuit of sustainable peace for the region.
—Petra Tötterman Andorff, Secretary-General of The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation