Stop the attack on Palestinians in Gaza and those trying to help them – IASC Directors Statement

New York/ Geneva/ Rome – We, the leaders of 15 humanitarian organizations and United Nations Organizations, call, once again, on all parties fighting in Gaza to protect civilians and call on the State of Israel to stop the attack on Gaza and on the humanitarians who are trying to help.

The situation unfolding in Northern Gaza is apocalyptic. The area has been under siege for nearly a month, denied basic aid and rescue supplies, while shelling and other attacks continue. In the last few days alone, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have been forcibly displaced again.

Hospitals were almost entirely cut off from supplies and attacked, killing patients, destroying vital equipment and disrupting life-saving services. Health workers and patients were arrested. Fighting also reportedly took place inside hospitals.

Dozens of schools serving as shelters have been bombed or forcibly evacuated. Tents housing displaced families were bombed and people were burned alive.

Rescue teams were deliberately attacked and thwarted in their attempts to pull people buried under the rubble of their homes.

The needs of women and girls are overwhelming and growing every day. We have lost touch with those we support and those who provide essential life-saving services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence.

And we received reports of civilians being targeted as they sought safety and of men and boys being arrested and taken to unknown locations for detention.

Also, livestock is dying, cultivated land has been destroyed, trees burned to the ground, and the infrastructure of agri-food systems has been decimated.

The entire Palestinian population in northern Gaza is at imminent risk of death from disease, starvation and violence.

Humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of need due to access constraints. Basic, life-saving goods are not available. Aid workers are not safe to do their work and are blocked by Israeli forces and insecurity from reaching people in need.

In a further blow to the humanitarian response, the polio vaccination campaign has been delayed by the fighting, putting the lives of children in the region at risk.

And this week, the Israeli parliament passed legislation that would ban UNRWA and revoke its privileges and immunities. If implemented, such measures would be a catastrophe for the humanitarian response in Gaza, diametrically opposed to the United Nations Charter, with potentially serious impacts on the human rights of millions of Palestinians who depend on UNRWA assistance, and in violation of Israel’s obligations under international law. justice.

Let’s be very clear: there is no alternative to UNRWA.

The blatant disregard for basic humanity and the laws of war must stop.

International humanitarian law, including the rules of distinction, proportionality and precautions, must be respected. IHL obligations do not depend on reciprocity. No breach by either party shall relieve the other of its legal obligations.

Attacks on civilians and what remains of civilian infrastructure in Gaza must stop.

Humanitarian aid must be facilitated and we urge all parties to provide unimpeded access to affected people. In addition, commercial goods must be allowed to enter Gaza.

The wounded and sick must receive the care they need. Medical staff and hospitals must be spared. Hospitals should not turn into battlefields.

Illegally detained Palestinians must be released.

Israel must comply with the orders and interim rulings of the International Court of Justice.

Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally and must respect international humanitarian law.

Member States must use their leverage to ensure compliance with international law. This includes withholding arms transfers where there is a clear risk that such arms will be used in violation of international law.

The whole region is on the edge of a precipice. An immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustained and unconditional ceasefire are long overdue.

Signatories:

• Ms Joyce Msuya, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• Ms Nimo Hassan, MBE, Chair, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
• Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
• Ms Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Ms Abby Maxman, President and Chief Executive, Oxfam
• Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR for IDPs)
• Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• Ms Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat)
• Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• Ms Catherine Russell, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
• Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women
• Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Program (WFP)
• Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)