150 Organizations Call on Governments to Secure an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel

UN member states must secure an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the region, and end the impunity that has allowed atrocities by Israeli forces against civilians to continue and escalate, 150 organizations, including DAWN, said in a joint statement.

The organizations warned that, "The international community's egregious disregard for international law and the government of Israel's unchecked impunity in Gaza, the West Bank and now Lebanon, has set dangerous new precedents for the conduct of war."

"Governments must do everything in their power to end this growing catastrophe and cycle of impunity. It is not only a moral imperative but a legal obligation. All Member States must prevent further atrocities and ensure that those responsible for any violations of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are held accountable. Failure to act now risks further eroding international norms and  emboldening perpetrators. The cycle of violence against civilians needs to stop," the organizations said.

The full statement and list of signatories follow below.

Oct 24, 2024

Open Call for a Ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel and End to Impunity amid a Spiralling Humanitarian Catastrophe and Escalating Regional Conflict

We, the undersigned organisations, appeal to all UN member states to secure an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the region, and to end the impunity that has allowed atrocities by Israeli forces against civilians to continue and escalate. Without accountability, there will be no red lines and no rock bottom.  

Israel's war in Gaza, following the deadly attacks by Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023, is the latest and most horrific onslaught of violence in the decades-long  Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. After a year of unfathomable killing and destruction, patterns of civilian harm by Israeli forces are spreading and escalating from Gaza to Lebanon, while rocket attacks by armed groups in Lebanon continue. We are now on the precipice of even greater devastation across the region. 

Failure to act now is a choice – a choice that will fail to stop and prevent future atrocities. The UN Commission of Inquiry concluded last week that Israel has committed war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination with 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 violations." 

Over the last 12 months, the UN Security Council has passed 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 within the scope of Article II of the Genocide Convention. The ICJ also issued an Advisory Opinion that found that Israel's occupation1 and annexation of Palestinian  territory is illegal, and the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding that  Israel end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) within 12 months. Despite this, none of these measures have been implemented or adhered to.  

The international community's egregious disregard for international law and the government of Israel's unchecked impunity in Gaza, the West Bank and now Lebanon, has set dangerous new precedents for the conduct of war. 

For civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon and Israel this has resulted  in:  

– Israeli military actions killing over 43,000 Palestinians across the oPt and more  than 2,000 people in Lebanon.  

– Israeli forces issuing displacement orders covering over 84% of Gaza's territory and now 25% of Lebanon's territory. These orders, combined with Israel's  bombardment, have forcibly displaced around 90% of Gaza's population and over 800,000 people in Lebanon.  

– An estimated 400,000 Palestinians are under siege and relentless bombardment in northern Gaza without access to food, water, fuel, or medical care. (UNRWA) 

– The killing of over 300 Palestinian and international aid workers, and over 1000 health care workers in Gaza and 95 in Lebanon. UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon are also coming under attack by Israeli forces (UNIFIL). Israeli military attacks on hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have decimated the health care  system in Gaza, and are destroying it in Lebanon – leaving millions without access to care. 

– Countless children and adults are dying of malnutrition and facing the risk of starvation, directly induced by the Israeli government's siege on Gaza, which includes systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid and essential services.  (IPC) 

– The killing of nearly 1,200 people in Israel during the Palestinian armed group led attacks on October 7, 2023 (OCHA).  

– Rockets fired by Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups have killed and injured dozens of people (Amnesty International) and displaced over 140,000 Israelis. 

– 101 hostages remain held by Palestinian armed groups, and thousands of Palestinians are unlawfully detained by Israeli forces in detention centers, including children, many whose whereabouts are unknown and have effectively disappeared. 

Many among us have repeatedly called for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, hostage release, a halt to arms transfers, and de-escalation of tensions in the region, and yet the violence only appears to be intensifying. Again, we call on all Heads of State and Governments, the UN Security Council, and actors on the ground to prioritise the preservation of human life above all else by: 

• Securing an immediate ceasefire by all parties to the conflict and an end to the indiscriminate attacks that kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure;
• Halting the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to parties to the conflict that may be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law (IHL);
• Enabling unhindered humanitarian access for the delivery of lifesaving assistance, including food, medical supplies and fuel, and the safe movements  of civilians and aid workers. 
• Ensuring the protection of civilians from further forced displacement, and the right to return for those forcibly displaced. Civilians who choose to stay or are unable to leave remain protected under international law. 
• Securing the release of all hostages and detainees. 
• Immediately activating independent international investigations into all apparent violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes committed  by all parties.  

Governments must do everything in their power to end this growing catastrophe and cycle of impunity. It is not only a moral imperative but a legal obligation. All Member States must prevent further atrocities and ensure that those responsible for any violations of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, are held accountable. Failure to act now risks further eroding international norms and emboldening perpetrators. The cycle of violence against civilians needs to stop.

1 For more on what international humanitarian law says about occupation, please see commentary by ICRC.

Signatories: 

1. ABCD Bethlehem 
2. Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR)  
3. AFSC, American Friends Service Committee 
4. ALEF – act for human rights 
5. Alternatives Internationales 
6. Amos Trust 
7. Anglican Pacifist Fellowship  
8. Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem 
9. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz (ACPP) 
10. Asociación Otra Escuela 
11. Association Switzerland-Palestine (Gesellschaft Schweiz-Palästina) 12. Avaaz 
12. Baytna pour le soutien de la société civile 
13. Belgium Palestine Mental Health Network 
14. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies 
15. Caritas Internationalis 
16. Caritas MONA (Middle East and North Africa) 
17. CCFD-Terre Solidaire 
18. Children Not Numbers 
19. Christian Aid 
20. Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) 
21. CIVICUS  
22. Clowns Without Borders Sweden 
23. Clowns Without Borders UK 
24. CNCD-11.11.11 
25. Collective Aid 
26. Comisión de Justicia y Paz de Confregua 
27. Cordaid 
28. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) 
29. Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) 
30. Danish Refugee Council 
31. DAWN  
32. Egala Association 
33. Emmaus International 
34. Equal Legal Aid 
35. EuroMed Rights Network 
36. Europe Cares e.V. 
37. European Alternatives 
38. Fellowship of Reconciliation – USA 
39. Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid 
40. Firefly International 
41. Forces Watch 
42. FORO SALUD NACIONAL 
43. France Palestine Mental Health Network 
44. FSMAGH (Forum des alternatives Maroc – FMAS) 46. Fund for Global Human Rights 
45. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect 
46. Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
47. Global Witness 
48. Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) 
49. HelpAge International  
50. Hivos 
51. Human Rights & Democracy Media Center "SHAMS"/Palestine 54. Human Rights Sentinel 
52. Human Security Collective 
53. Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International 
54. ICNA SISTERS CANADA  
55. Initiatives et Changement 
56. International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) 
57. International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) 
58. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) 
59. International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) 
60. International Peace Bureau (IPB) 
61. INTERSOS 
62. Ireland Palestine Mental Health Network 
63. Islamic Relief Worldwide 
64. Jewish Network for Palestine 
65. Jewish Voice for Peace-Health Advisory Council 
66. KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives 
67. Kenya Human Rights Commission 
68. KinderUSA 
69. Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law 
70. Lebanese Center for human Rights 
71. MADRE 
72. Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax 
73. Médecins du Monde International Network 
74. medico international 
75. Medicus Mundi Italia 
76. Migrant Roots Media 
77. Minnesota Peace Project 
78. Movement for community-led Development 
79. MPower Change Action Fund 
80. Muslim Association of Brantford 
81. Muslim Delegates and Allies 
82. Musulmanas de Guatemala por Palestina 
83. NO NAME KITCHEN 
84. Nonviolence International 
85. Nonviolent Peaceforce 
86. Norwegian Refugee Council 
87. Olof Palmes Internationella Center 
88. Omega Research Foundation 
89. Oxfam 
90. Palestinian Assoc. of Brantford 
91. PAX 
92. Pax Christi Australia 
93. Pax christi Deutsche Sektion 
94. Pax Christi England and Wales 
95. Pax Christi Flanders
96. Pax Christi International 
97. Pax Christi Scotland 
98. Pax Christi USA 
99. Peace Boat 
100. Peace Direct 
101. Peace SOS  
102. Peace Watch Switzerland 
103. Peace, Justice, Sustainability, NOW! 
104. People's Health Movement (PHM) 
105. Permanent Peace Movement 
106. Plan International 
107. Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine 
108. Polish Medical Mission 
109. Première Urgence Internationale 
110. Progressive Democrats of Pennsylvania 
111. Protection International 
112. PVE Works 
113. Quakers in Scotland (Religious Society of Friends) 
114. Resource Centre for human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) 
115. ReThinking Foreign Policy 
116. Rethinking Security 
117. Righting Relations Canada 
118. Saferworld 
119. SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties 
120. Seenaryo 
121. Share The World's Resources 
122. SOS Children's Villages UK 
123. Ster Organization for human development 
124. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) 
125. Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights 
126. Terre des Hommes Netherlands 
127. The Advocacy Academy 
128. The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security 
129. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation 
130. The International Federation for Rights and Development – IFRD 
131. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation 
132. The Namibia NGO Forum Trust 
133. The National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA 
134. The socio-economic Justice Initiative-MAAN 
135. The Syria Campaign 
136. Train of Hope Dortmund e. V. 
137. UK Palestine Mental Health Network 
138. United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK) 
139. University Network for Human Rights 
140. US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) 
141. Vision GRAM-International  
142. War Child 
143. WESPAC Foundation, Inc. 
144. WeWorld 
145. WILPF US
146. Women for Women International 
147. Women's International League for Peace & Freedom-Minnesota, USA, Branch 
148. World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) 
149. Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation 
150. مؤسسة الجلك لالستجابة والتنميه 
151. مؤسسة مدافعات للحقوق والحريات