Palestinian Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) call for the protection of the Palestinian people

The ongoing Israeli occupation of non-proportional attacks against protected civilians in the Gaza Strip constitutes a war crime. The Israeli occupation, as the occupying power, has a legal responsibility to ensure the protection of the lives and well-being of the protected Palestinian civilians in times of war.

The attacks by the Israeli occupation forces have claimed the lives of over 493 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip (including wiping out entire families and the lives of over 91 children and 61 women) and 15 Palestinians in the West Bank (including two children) so far.

The international community has consistently voiced condemnation of the Israeli occupation’s violations of Palestinian’s basic human rights. Nevertheless, the governmental occupation has continued to expand unchecked, not suffering any consequences.

The long-standing blockade imposed on Gaza has created severe humanitarian crises. The blockade has left Palestinians in Gaza struggling with dire circumstances, fueling their determination to seek justice.

The recent attacks imposed by the Israeli occupation have resulted in the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinian citizens in Gaza, pushing them to internal displacement in UNRWA schools.

The occupation implemented a decision to cut power to the Gaza Strip, causing distressing effects on healthcare facilities. Gaza’s already-strained healthcare infrastructure, due to the blockade, is now further burdened, posing a larger threat to countless lives.

The targeting of ambulances and hospitals by Israel constitutes a violation of international law, inflicting severe health repercussions. Gaza, lacking the essential healthcare resources to respond effectively to such crises, faces further humanitarian consequences.

The Israeli closure of the West Bank, including the closing of the only international border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, and the closure of the various illegal checkpoints in the occupied West Bank, thus isolating entire cities and villages from the rest of the Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, is another example of the systematic violations of Palestinians rights to movement and freedom. Illegal settlers in the West Bank, on the contrary, are granted freedom of movement and travel, indicating an implementation of a two-tier apartheid regime by Israel.

The Israeli occupation attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem have been another source of provocation. These attacks are sponsored and led by the most extreme elements in the Israeli occupation government. The halt of these attacks is of utmost importance.

We place full responsibility on the Israeli occupation for the well-being and safety of Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territories. We urgently request that the international community and United Nations take immediate and effective actions to put significant pressure on Israel’s occupation to stop its offensive actions in Gaza, ending the forcible displacement of people in the occupied West Bank, protect the lives of civilians, prevent any further loss of life, provide urgent humanitarian assistance to address the consequences of ongoing aggression and halt the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

We also call on the international community to protect civilians and pressure Israel to comply with the international law outlined in the Geneva Conventions, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention which focuses on protecting civilians during conflicts and occupation. Additionally, we emphasize the need for an immediate cessation of organized attacks on holy sites.

We consider the flagrant unconditional support the U.S. and European officials are offering Israel’s occupation while ignoring the plight of the Palestinian people as complicity in Israeli human rights violations and crimes against humanity, including the crime of apartheid. It is the international community’s failure to hold the Israel occupation accountable for its crimes that have led to the current situation.

In this context, it is crucial to emphasize that the root cause of these events is the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel. Ending the occupation and ensuring the right of the Palestinian people to obtain their freedom are fundamental imperatives. It is the duty of countries worldwide to actively work toward ending this occupation.

• Palestinian Civil Society Organizations that joined this agreement signed below:

1. Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network – PNGO.
2.  AMAN Coalition.
3. Social Developmental Forum (SDF).
4. Palestinian NGO forum for combating violence against women (Almuntada)
5. REFORM.
6. Sharek Youth Forum.
7. Bisan Centre for Research and Development.
8. Human Rights and Democracy Media Center SHAMS.
9. Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA).
10. Filastiniyat.
11. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD.
12. Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling.
13. Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurriyat”.
14. Addameer for prisoner support and human rights.
15. General Union of Cultural Centers.
16. Union of Palestinian Women Committees.
17. Jerusalem Legal Aid Center
18. Arab world democracy and electoral monitor (Almarsad).
19. MA’AN Development Center.
20. Women’s Studies Centre (WSC).
21. YWCA Palestine.
22. Palestinian Youth Union – PYU.
23. Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of  Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH.
24. MUSAWA- The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession.
25. The Civil Commission for the Independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL).
26. Palestinian Medical Relief Society – PMRS.
27. Health Work Committees Palestine.