Palestinian Civil Society Organizations Call for Protection of the Palestinian People

Palestinian Civil Society Organizations Condemn the Israeli War Crimes Against Palestinian Civilians.

The undersigned Palestinian civil society organizations, institutions, and coalitions strongly condemn the war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, including acts of killing, shelling, and the destruction of homes, residential towers, and civilian institutions. These actions also include the denial of fuel and goods, and the cutting off electricity to Gaza. This is happening in the context of an ongoing blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for over sixteen years.

The continuous and disproportionate attacks by the Israeli occupation against protected civilians in Gaza constitute a war crime. As the occupying power, Israel bears legal responsibility to ensure the protection of the lives of Palestinian civilians in times of war.

The attacks launched by Israeli forces over just two days have resulted in the deaths of over 413 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip (including the killing of entire families, 78 children, and 41 women), as well as seven Palestinians in the West Bank (including one child). Additionally, over 2,300 people have been injured, including 213 children and 140 women.

The international community has consistently condemned Israel's violations of Palestinians' basic human rights. However, the Israeli government continues its expansion without deterrence and without facing any consequences.

The long-standing blockade imposed on Gaza has caused severe humanitarian crises, subjecting Palestinians in Gaza to harsh conditions, increasing their determination to seek justice. The recent attacks by the Israeli occupation have led to the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, pushing them into internal displacement in UNRWA schools.

Moreover, Israel's decision to cut electricity to the Gaza Strip has had painful consequences on healthcare facilities. The already strained healthcare infrastructure in Gaza, due to the blockade, has been further burdened, posing a greater threat to countless lives.

The targeting of ambulances and hospitals by Israel constitutes a violation of international law and has serious health consequences, as Gaza, lacking basic healthcare resources to effectively respond to such crises, faces even more humanitarian consequences.

Furthermore, the Israeli closure of the West Bank, including the closure of the only international border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, and the closure of various illegal checkpoints in the occupied West Bank, isolating entire cities and villages from the rest of the Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, is another example of systematic violations of Palestinians' rights to freedom of movement. In contrast, illegal settlers in the West Bank are granted freedom of movement, signaling the implementation of a two-tier apartheid system by Israel.

Israeli attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem have also become another source of provocation, with these attacks being orchestrated and led by the most extremist elements of the Israeli government. Therefore, it is critical to halt these attacks as soon as possible.

We hold the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the lives and safety of Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territories. We urgently call on the international community and the United Nations to take immediate and effective action to exert significant pressure on Israel to stop its offensive actions on Gaza and end the forced displacement of people in the occupied West Bank. We demand the protection of civilian lives, the prevention of further loss of life, and the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to address the consequences of the ongoing aggression and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

We also call on the international community to protect civilians and pressure Israel to comply with international law as outlined in the Geneva Conventions, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, which focuses on the protection of civilians during conflicts and occupations. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of an immediate halt to the organized attacks on holy sites.

We consider the explicit and unconditional support provided by American and European officials to the Israeli occupation, as well as their disregard for the suffering of the Palestinian people, to be participation in Israel's human rights violations and crimes against humanity, including the crime of apartheid. The failure of the international community to hold Israel accountable for its crimes has led to the current situation.