In light of the ongoing crimes of the Israeli occupation against civilians, the targeting of civilians and civilian institutions, and the United Nations’ declaration of famine in Gaza Governorate—with expectations of its spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis Governorates by the end of September—and based on the international classification of food insecurity, it has been confirmed that at least half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5). This phase is characterized by severe hunger, death, destitution, and extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition, according to the United Nations.
Amid the continuation of the genocide perpetrated by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip—which has claimed the lives of more than 62,000 martyrs and caused over 157,000 injuries—and the Israeli government’s approval of the implementation of the “E1” plan to build around 3,400 new settlement units, settler attacks continue in parallel. These include burning properties, lands, and crops, assaulting civilians, and in some cases committing murder.
Today, the occupation committed another crime by deliberately targeting journalists, medical teams, and hospitals, resulting in the killing of twenty civilians, including six journalists and a member of a medical team—all of whom are protected under international law. This crime reaffirms the occupation’s deliberate violations of international law and international humanitarian law, and highlights the failure of the international community to stop the aggression and protect civilians and civilian institutions.
The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) calls for the provision of international protection for the Palestinian people, through a UN Security Council resolution deploying international forces to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank from violations by the Israeli occupation and settlers. In the event that the Security Council fails to provide such protection, PNGO urges the State of Palestine at the United Nations to turn to the General Assembly and demand the following:
- The imposition of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ending the blockade, and opening the crossings.
- Deployment of international forces to guarantee the protection of Palestinians from Israeli occupation violations.
- Intervention to deter settler violence and halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, supported by the extremist right-wing Israeli government.
- Imposing sanctions on the occupying state and suspending Israel’s membership in the United Nations and all of its bodies until it complies with international law.
