[PALESTINE] Palestinian Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) call for the protection of the Palestinian people.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2023

[PALESTINE] Palestinian Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) call for the protection of the Palestinian people.

The ongoing Israeli occupations nonproportional 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 wellbeing 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 91 children and 61 women) and 12 Palestinians in the West Bank (including two children) thus far. Morover, 2751 Palestinians have been severely injured.

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 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 are 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 occupation to stop its offensive actions in Gaza, ending forcibly 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 the civilians and pressure Israel to comply with the international law outlined in the Geneva Conventions, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention that 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 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 causes 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.

To express agreement with this document, each organization is expected to sign below:

1. Palestinian Non-Govermental organizations Network – PNGO
2. AMAN Coalition for Accountability and Integrity
3. Palestinian NGO forum for combating violence against women (Almuntada)
4. REFORM
5. Sharek Youth Forum
6. Bisan Centre for Research and Development
7. Human Rights and Democracy Media center SHAMS
8. Palestinian center gor Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
9. Filastiniyat
10. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD
11. Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling
12. Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”
13. Addameer for prisoner support and human rights
14. General Union of Cultural Centers
15. Union of Palestinian Women Committees
16. Jerusalem Legal Aid Center
17. Arab world democracy and electoral monitor (Almarsad)
18. MA’AN Development Center
19. Women’s Studies Centre (WSC)
20. YWCA Palestine
21. Palestinian Youth Union – PYU
22. Palestinian initiative for the prolotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH
23. MUSAWA- The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession
24. The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL)
25. Palestinian Medical Relief Society – PMRS
26. Health Work Committees Palestine
27. Psycho social counseling center for women
28. QADER for Community Development
29. Land Research Center
30. WOMEN’S Affairs Technical Committee
31. MARIAM TV
32. Hadded Hadfak Assocation
33. AlZahraa Charity
34. Wasel center for youth development
35. The national societyfor rehabilitation
36. Haider Abdel Shafi Center
37. Fsmagh/machrek
38. Youth and Environment Coalition
39. Remedial Education Center
40. The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR)
41. Consejo de Educación Popular de América Latina y el Caribe – CEAAL
42. Confederación Intersindical
43. Unión Popular Valle Gómez
44. Daniel Sánchez Negrete
45. Public Aid Society
46. Palestinian Social forum – PSF
47. Alternatives Forum – Palestine
48. Forum des Alternatives Maroc
49. Observatoire Marocain des Libertés Publique
50. Comité pour le development et le patrimoine
51. The Community Development and Media Center
52. Yafa Cultural Center
53. Carlos de Jesús
54. Alternatives International
55. Alternatives
56. INEPE – Ecuador
57. Consejo de Educación Popular de América Latina y El Caribe, colectivo de Ecuador
58. Teachers Creativity Center
59. Elraafa
60. Atfaluna society for deaf children
61. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions — ZCTU
62. Syrian Expatriate Medical Association
63. Supporting Palestinian People Rights Association
64. Cultural and Free Thought Association
65. AFKAR Organization for Educational & Cultural Development
66. The Arab Women’s Union Society Nablus
67. Arab Agronomists Association
68. Central blood bank society
69. PYALARA
70. Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine
71. The Applied Research Insitute of Jerusalem (ARIJ)
72. The Arab Center for Agricultural Development/ ACAD
73. Rural Women Development Society
74. Palestinian Performing Arts Network
75. Wishah
76. Defense for Children International Palestine Section
77. Trades Union Congress Ghana – Halls of Trade Unions
78. Thalassemia Palestinian Friends Society
79. Al Saraya Center for Community Services
80. Health Development, Information, and Policy Institute
81. Palestine Society for Bleeding Disorders
82. Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture
83. Palestinian Counseling Center
84. Women and Family Affairs Center
85. Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association
86. Child Care and Mother’s Guidance Association
87. Palestinian Businesswomen’s Association (Asala)
88. Mothers’ School Society
89. Sawaed
90. An Najdah
91. Palestinian Women’s Development Center
92. Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee
93. Union of Agricultural Work Committees
94. Palestinian Hydrology Group
95. Palestinian Farmers Union
96. Future Builders Forum
97. Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center
98. Tamer Institute for Community Education
99. Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society
100. Burj Al-Luqluq Social Center Society
101. Sarreyat Ramallah
102. PopularArt Center
103. Youth Development Association
104. Palestinian Youth Union Association
105. Wasel Foundation for Youth Development
106. Save Youth Future Society
107. Kan’an Association for Youth
108. Al Awda Center for Childhood and the Youth