Open call for a ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel and end to impunity amid a spiralling humanitarian catastrophe and escalating regional conflict

This is a joint statement with over 150 signatories.

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 choicea 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 [1] 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: 

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.

[1] For more on what international humanitarian law says about occupation, please see commentary by ICRC.

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 الجلك لالستجابة والتنميه .
  154. مؤسسة مدافعات للحقوق والحريات .

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