250+ Humanitarian and Human Rights Organisations Call to Stop Arms Transfers to Israel, Palestinian Armed Groups

11 April 2024

An open call to all UN Member States to stop fueling the crisis in Gaza and avert further humanitarian catastrophe and loss of civilian life.

We, the undersigned organisations, call on all States to immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel and Palestinian armed groups while there is risk they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.

Israel’s bombardment and siege are depriving the civilian population of the basics to survive and rendering Gaza uninhabitable. Today, the civilian population in Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented severity and scale.

Violations of international humanitarian law

Furthermore, Palestinian armed group-led attacks killed around 1,200 people and took hundreds of Israeli and foreign hostages, including children, and continue to hold more than 130 hostages captive inside Gaza. Armed groups in Gaza have continued to indiscriminately fire rockets toward population centres in Israel, disrupting school for children, displacing and threatening the lives and well being of civilians. Hostage-taking and indiscriminate attacks are violations of international humanitarian law and must end 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. Member states have a legal responsibility to use all possible tools to leverage better protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law. Gaza’s remaining lifeline – an internationally-funded humanitarian aid response – has been paralyzed by the intensity of the hostilities, which have included the shooting of aid convoys, recurrent communications blackouts, damaged roads, restrictions on essential supplies, an almost complete ban on commercial supplies, and a bureaucratic process to send aid into Gaza.

Destruction and civilian harm

Israel’s military activity has destroyed a substantial portion of Gaza’s homes, schools, hospitals, water infrastructure, shelters, and refugee camps; the indiscriminate nature of these bombings and a pattern of apparently disproportionate civilian harm they routinely cause is unacceptable. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned of the “heightened risk of atrocity crimes” being committed in Gaza and called on all states to prevent such crimes from unfolding. Since this call, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has only deteriorated further:

More than 33,000 Palestinians, at least 14,500 of them children, have been killed over the last six months, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Thousands more are buried under the rubble and presumed dead.
More than 75,000 people have been injured, many with life-changing injuries that will leave them with permanent disabilities; these include more than 1,000 Palestinian children who have lost one or more of their upper or lower limbs.
An unknown number of Palestinian civilians, reportedly including children, have been unlawfully detained, according to the UN, and must be released.
Palestinians continue to be killed nearly every day in areas the Israeli government told them to flee. In the first week of 2024, an Israeli airstrike killed 14 people – the majority children – near an area Israeli forces prescribed as a “humanitarian zone.”
Over 70% of Gaza’s population, around 1.7 million people, has been forcibly displaced. Many followed Israeli-issued orders to relocate south and are now being squeezed into tiny pockets of land that cannot sustain human life, which have become breeding ground for the spread of disease.

Children and families face starvation

Half of the population of Gaza - around 1.1 million Palestinians - are facing catastrophic levels of hunger and starvation, the highest number ever recorded by the technical humanitarian body responsible for making evidence-based assessments of food insecurity, with famine now imminent in northern Gaza. The entire population of the Gaza Strip - around 2.2 million people - are facing high levels of acute food insecurity.
More than 70% of Gaza’s homes, much of its schools, and its water and sanitation infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged and left the population with almost no access to clean water.
Not a single medical facility in the enclave is fully operational and those partially functioning are overwhelmed with trauma cases and shortages of medical supplies and doctors. More than 489 health workers have been killed.
At least 243 aid workers* in Gaza have been killed, the highest of any conflict in this century.

Gaza today is the most dangerous place to be a child, a journalist, and an aid worker. Hospitals and schools should never become battlegrounds. These conditions have created a situation of utter desperation inside Gaza, leading top aid officials to declare that there are no longer the conditions for a meaningful humanitarian response in Gaza. This will not change until the siege, the bombardment and the fighting ends. In January, the United Nations described humanitarian access as a “significant deterioration.” Israeli forces have repeatedly denied permission for aid convoys to reach areas north of Wadi Gaza where people are at the highest risk of starvation.

In recent weeks, high ranking Israeli officials have begun calling for the deportation of Palestinian civilians out of Gaza. The forcible transfer within Gaza and deportation of a portion of the population across borders, lacking any guarantees of return, would constitute a serious violation of international law, amounting to an atrocity crime.

We demand an immediate ceasefire

We demand an immediate ceasefire and call on all states to halt the transfer of weapons that can be used to commit violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The UN Security Council must 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.

All states have the obligation to prevent atrocity crimes and promote adherence to norms that protect civilians. The international community is long overdue to live up to these commitments.

Editor’s Note

This statement was initially published on 24 January 2024, with the endorsement of 16 humanitarian organisations. Since its publishing, more than 250 civil society organisations around the world have endorsed the call. This statement has been updated to reflect figures that are accurate as of 10 April 2024, including the numbers of people killed, including children, aid workers, and health care workers, the number of those injured, and the latest figures in respect to food insecurity released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
Since the original statement was published on 24 January 2024, the following events have occurred:
- On 26 January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures in the case of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).
- On 12 February 2024, the Dutch Court ordered the government of Netherlands to stop supplying F35 fighter jet parts to Israel within seven days, due to the risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
- On 23 February 2024, UN experts released a joint-statement stating that arms exports to Israel must stop immediately, stating, “The need for an arms embargo on Israel is heightened by the International Court of Justice’s ruling on 26 January 2024 that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and the continuing serious harm to civilians since then.”
- On 25 March 2024, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2728 demanding an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan.
- On 28 March 2024, the ICJ issued additional provisional measures alongside observations of the court that “famine is setting in.”
- On 5 April 2024, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution to “cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, the occupying Power…to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.”

The total number of aid workers killed includes staff members of UN agencies, NGOs, as well as the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Figures on the annual number of aid workers killed in other context can be found on the Aid Worker Security Database.

Undersigned

1 Federation Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion

2 War Child Alliance

3 Christian Aid

4 Norwegian People’s Aid

5 Médecins du Monde International Network

6 Mennonite Central Committee

7 medico international

8 Oxfam

9 Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)

10 Danish Refugee Council

11 Save the Children

12 Plan International

13 Norwegian Refugee Council

14 Diakonia

15 Amnesty International

16 American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

17 Welfare Association

18 War on Want

19 War Childhood Museum Foundation

20 Palestinian Farmers Union

21 WESPAC Foundation, Inc.

22 United Nations Association - UK

23 Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS)

24 Human Rights Sentinel

25 IM Swedish Development Partner

26 Firefly International

27 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

28 Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) GE

29 Nonviolent Peaceforce

30 Peace Action

31 Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)

32 Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation

33 France Palestine Mental Health Network

34 Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations

35 Syrian Network for Human Rights.

36 INGO ALG CONSULTANT GROUP

37 Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development

38 Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

39 Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)

40 The National Organization of Yemeni Reporters SADA

41 L'Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP)

42 Development and Peace - Caritas Canada

43 EmpowerVan

44 Train of Hope Dortmund e.V.

45 Jewish Network for Palestine

46 مدافعات للحقوق والحریات والتنمیھ

47 PELDA

48 Ina autra senda - Swiss Friends of Combatants for Peace

49 Street Child UK

50 Polish Medical Mission

51 Peace SOS

52 Gender Advisory Team, Cyprus

53 Olof Palmes Internationella Center

54 Cordaid

55 Street Child España

56 Share The World's Resources

57 Church and Peace - Ecumenical Peace Church Network in Europe

58 ForcesWatch

59 Vredesactie

60 Terre des Hommes Netherlands

61 Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights

62 Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

63 Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine

64 PAX

65 EuroMed Rights

66 Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

67 The Presbyterian Church in Canada

68 The United Church of Canada

69 Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

70 CIUSSS Centre-Sud

71 Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy

72 Business Plan for Peace

73 Secours Catholique - Caritas France

74 Danish Muslim Aid

75 Peace Direct

76 Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine (BA4P)

77 Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions - UK

78 The Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security

79 Creatura Think & Do Tank

80 Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions - Germany

81 Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)

82 The Hague Peace Projects

83 Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

84 Nonviolence International

85 Primate's World Relief and Development Fund

86 Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion

87 The Anglican Church of Canada/L'Eglise anglican du Canada

88 MADRE

89 Ekō

90 ReThinking Foreign Policy

91 International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Germany

92 Initiatives et Changement (IofC France)

93 WeWorld

94 Pax Christi - Deutsche Sektion e.V.

95 Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte

96 Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy -CPRA

97 Equal Legal Aid

98 Young Christian Students Movement South Africa

99 Laurentiuskonvent e.V.

100 Socialist Movement of Ghana

101 Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation

102 Japan Fellowship of Reconciliation

103 Action Corps

104 EgyptWide for Human Rights

105 Pax Christi International

106 International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) - Greece

107 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

108 KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

109 Committee of 100 in Finland

110 Khulumani Support Group

111 Amos Trust

112 Sanad Basra Organization for Human Rights

113 Association Pour Jérusalem (France)

114 Community of Christ

115 Avaaz

116 Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine

117 Women Volunteers for Peace

118 Forum Computer Professionals for Peace and Societal Responsibility

119 Salam For Yemen

120 Vereinigung Demokratischer Juristinnen und Juristen e.V. (VDJ)

121 Association France Palestine Solidarite Paris-Sud

122 Culture de Palestine

123 Emmaus International

124 Kristna Fredsrörelsen / SweFOR

125 Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

126 Medical Association for Prevention of War

127 HelpAge International

128 Quakers in Scotland (General Meeting for Scotland)

129 Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e. V.

130 DAWN MENA

131 Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)

132 NVMP-Artsen voor vrede

133 ActionAid France

134 Pax Christi Scotland

135 Shujaa-Initiative

136 Pax Christi Italia

137 Pax Christi - Perú

138 Center for Jewish Nonviolence

139 Peace Movement Aotearoa

140 Center for Peace Education, Miriam College

141 Pax Christi England and Wales

142 Pax Christi Aotearoa NZ

143 Pax Christi Miriam College

144 Age International

145 Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict

146 Arms Information Centre (RIB e.V.)

147 Caritas International Belgium

148 Medact

149 Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

150 Feminist Humanitarian Network

151 Saferworld

152 Mwatana for Human Rights

153 The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

154 International Alert

155 CIVICUS

156 Internationaler Versöhnungsbund - Deutscher Zweig e.V.

157 Pax Christi USA

158 Caritas Internationalis

159 The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society

160 Humance Heal For Human Rights

161 International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

162 Min Haqi Foundation to Empower Women Politically and Economically

163 Yoga and Sport with Refugees

164 Caesar Families Association

165 KinderUSA

166 Ocalenie Foundation

167 Aura Freedom International

168 Finnish-Arab Friendship Society

169 Street Child Italy

170 Rebuilding Alliance

171 Bildungsprojekt Sachsen im Klimawandel

172 Diversity Matters North West Ltd

173 Un Ponte Per

174 Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

175 Terre des Hommes Italy

176 Middle East Children's Alliance

177 Mercy Corps

178 Permanent Peace Movement

179 Seenaryo

180 Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal (WPD Nepal)

181 Muslim Peace Fellowship

182 UCOS vzw (UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION)

183 Protection International (PI)

184 Women's Right to Education Programme

185 Women in Humanitarian Response in Nigeria Initiative

186 IANSA Women Network Nigeria

187 Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition

188 Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax

189 Tamkeen for Legal Aid & Human Rights

190 Doctors Against Genocide

191 The Rights Forum

192 Women for Peace - Finland

193 Righting Relations Canada

194 Foyer du Monde

195 Bahrain Transparency

196 Rete Italiana Pace Disarmo

197 FundiPau

198 Control Arms

199 Climate Refugees

200 SOL Education Center

201 Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos - México

202 Daraj Media

203 Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL)

204 Mujeres para el Dialogo

205 Pastoral Social, Iglesia Anglicana de México

206 Asociación de familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos y Víctimas de Violaciones a los Derechos Humanos en México AFADEM-FEDEFAM

207 Anti-Prison Feminist Project - Sisters in the Shade (Mexico)

208 Servicio Paz y Justicia (serpaj)-mexico

209 Global Thought

210 American Baptist Churches USA

211 Sojourners

212 Migrant Roots Media

213 Citizens for Just Policy

214 PEOPLES FEDERATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (PEFENAP)

215 Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP)

216 Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas

217 Vision GRAM-International

218 The United Church of Christ

219 Caritas Middle East and North Africa

220 Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient

221 BDS Berlin

222 SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)

223 Women in Black - Austria

224 Collective Aid

225 ReFOCUS Media Labs - Poland

226 Fund for Global Human Rights

227 Omega Research Foundation

228 Women for Weapons Trade Transparency

229 United Against Inhumanity (UAI)

230 Episcopal Peace Fellowship-Palestine Israel Network

231 Terre des Hommes International Federation

232 CCFD-Terre Solidaire

233 COCASEN - Coalición Nacional Contra el Abuso Sexual

234 CARE International

235 Fundación Ser de Paz AC

236 Forum o Disarmament and Development of Sri Lanka

237 FTSCD(Forum Togolais de la Société civile pour le Développement)

238 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

239 MPower Change Action Fund

240 Steirische Friedensplattform

241 Minnesota Peace Project

242 Académicos con Palestina contra el genocidio

243 International Rescue Committee

244 Fundación Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual

245 Broederlijk Delen

246 Coordinadora Galega de ONG para o Desenvolvemento

247 ARSIS Association for the Social Support of Youth

248 Churches for Middle East Peace

249 Educo - Spain

250 MENA Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (MENAPPAC)

251 Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) - Lebanon

252 Entraide et Fraternité - Belgium