Israel’s war on Gaza, following the deadly attacks by Palestinian armed groups on October 7, 2023, constitutes the most recent and horrifying surge of violence in Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory. After a year of unimaginable massacres and destruction, the patterns of violence against civilians perpetrated by Israeli forces are spreading and intensifying from Gaza to Lebanon, while rocket fire by armed groups in Lebanon continues. We now stand on the brink of even greater devastation across the region.
Failing to act now is a choice—a choice that will fail to stop and prevent future atrocities. The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded last week that Israel had committed war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination by carrying out 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 these violations“.
Over the past twelve months, the United Nations Security Council has adopted 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 falling under Article II of the Genocide Convention. The ICJ also issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory are illegal, and the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding that Israel end its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) within 12 months. Despite this, none of these measures have been implemented or respected.
The international community’s blatant disregard for international law and the total impunity of the Israeli government in Gaza, the West Bank, and now Lebanon, have set dangerous new precedents for the conduct of war.
Lebanon: Escalation of violence and humanitarian response
For civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Israel, this has resulted in:
- Israeli military actions killing over 43,000 Palestinians in the OPT and over 2,000 people in Lebanon.
- Israeli forces issuing displacement orders covering over 84% of Gaza’s territory and now 25% of Lebanese territory. These orders, combined with Israeli bombings, have led to the forced displacement of approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and over 800,000 people in Lebanon.
- An estimated 400,000 Palestinians besieged and relentlessly bombed in northern Gaza, with no access to food, water, fuel, or medical care. Israel has blocked the entry of food aid into northern Gaza since October 1. (UNRWA)
- The killing of over 300 Palestinian and international humanitarian workers and over 1,000 healthcare workers in Gaza and 95 healthcare workers in Lebanon. UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon are also being targeted by Israeli forces (UNIFIL). Israeli military attacks on hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have decimated the healthcare system in Gaza and are destroying it in Lebanon, leaving millions without access to care.
- Countless children and adults dying from malnutrition and at risk of starvation due to the siege imposed on Gaza by the Israeli government, which systematically obstructs the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services. (IPC)
- The killing of nearly 1,200 people in Israel during attacks by Palestinian armed groups on October 7, 2023 (OCHA).
- Rockets fired by Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups that have killed and injured dozens of people (Amnesty International) and displaced over 140,000 Israelis.
- 101 hostages still held by Palestinian armed groups and thousands of Palestinians illegally detained by Israeli forces in detention centers, including children, many of whom are missing and have effectively disappeared.
Many of us have repeatedly called for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, the release of hostages, the cessation of arms transfers, and the de-escalation of tensions in the region, yet violence only seems to be intensifying. Once again, we call on all heads of state and government, the United Nations Security Council, and actors on the ground to prioritize the preservation of human life above all else by:
- Ensuring an immediate ceasefire between all parties to the conflict and an end to indiscriminate attacks that kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure;
- Ending the transfer of arms, spare parts, and ammunition to parties to the conflict that could be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law (IHL);
- Enabling unhindered humanitarian access for the delivery of life-saving aid, including food, medical supplies, and fuel, as well as the safe movement of civilians and humanitarian workers;
- Ensuring the protection of civilians from further forced displacement and the right of return for those forcibly displaced. Civilians who choose to stay or cannot leave remain protected under international law;
- Ensuring the release of all hostages and detainees;
- Immediately triggering independent international investigations into all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and alleged war crimes committed by all parties.
Governments must do everything in their power to end this escalating catastrophe and the cycle of impunity. This is not only a moral imperative but also a legal obligation. All Member States must prevent further atrocities and ensure that those responsible for any violation of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are held accountable. Failing to act now risks further eroding international norms and emboldening those responsible for these crimes. The cycle of violence against civilians must end.