On World Humanitarian Day, we honor the staff and volunteers of Palestinian civil society ‎organizations. For over 680 days, they have been writing an epic of sacrifice and dedication ‎in the face of genocide and a suffocating blockade, and we remember the female and male ‎colleagues who sacrificed their lives for their humanitarian mission to serve our people ‎and alleviate their suffering.‎

Destruction did not stop them. Bombardment did not deter them. They continued their ‎work saving lives and alleviating the suffering of all segments of society, from children to ‎women and the elderly, proving that humanity is the strongest weapon in the face of the ‎machinery of war and extermination.‎

They have paid a heavy price in their blood and freedom: more than 225 of our colleagues ‎and volunteers have been martyred, hundreds more have been wounded, and over 20 ‎have been arrested and detained while performing their humanitarian work—while ‎rescuing the wounded or delivering aid. The occupation has destroyed 90% of the ‎premises and facilities of Palestinian civil society organizations.‎

Furthermore, the occupation prevents humanitarian aid destined for Palestinian and ‎international organizations from entering, severely restricting their ability to deliver life-‎saving responses and exacerbating the catastrophic humanitarian reality our people ‎endure.‎

On this day, we also stand in reverence for the humanitarian workers martyred from the ‎Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ‎‎(UNRWA), and other humanitarian institutions, in sympathy with their wounded and ‎detained, and in tribute to all who risk their lives to preserve the lives of others.‎

The international community has failed relief workers during this aggression by failing to ‎provide protection, to hold the occupation accountable, and to exert serious pressure to ‎open crossings and allow humanitarian aid in.‎

We call on the international community to assume its responsibility in providing ‎international protection to the Palestinians, in addition to:‎

• Protecting humanitarian workers.‎
• Opening crossings for aid without obstacles.‎
• Holding accountable anyone who targets those who carry nothing but the banner of ‎mercy.