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 1000 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. Norwegian Refugee Council
2. Oxfam
3. KinderUSA
4. Nonviolent Peaceforce
5. Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International
6. Médecins du Monde International Network
7. War Child
8. Asociación Otra Escuela
9. Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem
10. SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties
11. Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights
12. Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu)
13. Egala Association
14. United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK)
15. Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law
16. Jewish Network for Palestine
17. Avaaz
18. Pax christi Deutsche Sektion
19. Train of Hope Dortmund e. V.
20. Amos Trust
21. Pax Christi Flanders
22. The Syria Campaign
23. The Namibia NGO Forum Trust
24. Kenya Human Rights Commission
25. Pax Christi Australia
26. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation
27. International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
28. Ster Organization for human development
29. Human Rights Sentinel
30. Firefly International
31. Share The World’s Resources
32. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
33. Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine
34. Polish Medical Mission
35. Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
36. Terre des Hommes Netherlands
37. Permanent Peace Movement
38. Emmaus International
39. Seenaryo
40. Medicus Mundi Italia
41. Omega Research Foundation
42. PAX
43. Minnesota Peace Project
44. Baytna pour le soutien de la société civile
45. Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid
46. The Advocacy Academy
47. medico international
48. Muslim Delegates and Allies
49. Caritas MONA (Middle East and North Africa)
50. The International Federation for Rights and Development – IFRD
51. مؤسسة مدافعات للحقوق والحريات
52. مؤسسة لاجلك للاستجابة والتنميه
53. WeWorld
54. Human Security Collective
55. ABCD Bethlehem
56. Lebanese Center for human Rights
57. The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security
58. ICNA SISTERS CANADA
59. The socio-economic Justice Initiative-MAAN
60. Hivos
61. ALEF – act for human rights
62. Olof Palmes Internationella Center
63. Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR)
64. Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax
65. France Palestine Mental Health Network
66. Clowns Without Borders UK
67. Resource Centre for human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED)
68. Peace Watch Switzerland
69. Protection International
70. Initiatives et Changement
71. PVE Works
72. Collective Aid
73. Equal Legal Aid
74. Belgium Palestine Mental Health Network
75. Cordaid
76. Muslim Association of Brantford
77. Palestinian Assoc. of Brantford
78. SOS Children’s Villages UK
79. International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
80. Righting Relations Canada
81. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz (ACPP)
82. CCFD-Terre Solidaire
83. Peace SOS
84. ReThinking Foreign Policy
85. MPower Change Action Fund
86. Pax Christi USA
87. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
88. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
89. Peace Direct
90. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
91. WESPAC Foundation, Inc.
92. Pax Christi International
93. Vision GRAM-International
94. HelpAge International
95. Clowns Without Borders Sweden
96. Quakers in Scotland (Religious Society of Friends)
97. US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)
98. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
99. Ireland Palestine Mental Health Network
100. Peace Boat
101. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
102. Peace, Justice, Sustainability, NOW!
103. Movement for community-led Development
104. MADRE
105. Saferworld
106. European Alternatives
107. NO NAME KITCHEN
108. Christian Aid
109. Europe Cares e.V.
110. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
111. Comisión de Justicia y Paz de Confregua
112. AFSC, American Friends Service Committee
113. Pax Christi England and Wales
114. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
115. CNCD-11.11.11
116. The National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA
117. EuroMed Rights Network
118. Danish Refugee Council
119. Plan International
120. Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS”/Palestine
121. Rethinking Security
122. Fund for Global Human Rights
123. Nonviolence International
124. Jewish Voice for Peace-Health Advisory Council
125. International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)
126. Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom-Minnesota, USA, Branch
127. Fellowship of Reconciliation – USA
128. Première Urgence Internationale
129. Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
130. Association Switzerland-Palestine (Gesellschaft Schweiz-Palästina)
131. Forces Watch
132. Islamic Relief Worldwide
133. People’s Health Movement (PHM)
134. INTERSOS
135. International Peace Bureau (IPB)
136. Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
137. Global Witness
138. Migrant Roots Media
139. University Network for Human Rights
140. Pax Christi Scotland
141. UK Palestine Mental Health Network
142. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
143. WILPF US
144. Women for Women International
145. Progressive Democrats of Pennsylvania
146. Children Not Numbers
147. KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
148. FORO SALUD NACIONAL
149. Alternatives Internationales
150. DAWN
151. CIVICUS
152. FSMAGH (Forum des alternatives Maroc – FMAS)
153. Musulmanas de Guatemala por Palestina
154. Caritas Internationalis
155. Veterans for Peace, Phil Berrigan Memorial Chapter (Baltimore, MD)
156. USA Palestine Mental Health Network
157. War Resisters League
158. SOL Education Center
159. Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
160. GOOD TO BE GOOD
161. Anera
162. Central Pacific Conference of the UCC Palestine/Israel Network
163. Alternative Jewish Voices/Sh’ma Koleinu
164. Embrace the Middle East
165. Welfare Association
166. Frieda – the Feminist Peace Organisation
167. Centre for Global Education
168. United Against Inhumanity
169. Peace & Justice – Scotland
170. Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e. V.
171. Refugees International
172. Save the Children