A group of more than 250 humanitarian and human rights organizations from across the world are demanding that all States immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel armed groups.
A statement demanding this action, which was initially issued in January with a signee list that included sixteen major humanitarian and human rights organisations, has in recent months grown substantially as the war in Gaza has worsened. Now, a milestone of over 200 organisations have signed onto the statement, showing the increasing relevance and urgency of this call.
''Gaza today is the most dangerous place to be a child, a journalist, and an aid worker,'' the statement reads. ''Hospitals and schools should never become battlegrounds. These conditions have created a situation of utter desperation inside Gaza.
The statement calls upon the UN Security Council to ''fulfill its responsibility to maintain global peace and security by adopting measures to halt the transfer of weapons to the Government of Israel and Palestinian armed groups and prevent the supply of arms that risk being used in the commission of international crimes, effective immediately.''
Humanitarian agencies, human rights groups, United Nations officials, and more than 153 member states have called for an immediate ceasefire.
However, Israel continues to use explosive weapons and munitions in densely populated areas with massive humanitarian consequences for the people of Gaza. World leaders have urged the Israeli government to reduce civilian casualties, yet Israeli military operations in Gaza continue to kill people at unprecedented levels, according to remarks by the UN Secretary-General.