12th May 2025

Palestinian civil society, joined by humanitarian and human rights organisations worldwide, issues this urgent and unified call: The manufactured famine in Gaza must be halted. The international community must act decisively, immediately, and with full moral and legal responsibility.

We are witnessing, in real time, the deliberate starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare. Over two million Palestinians in Gaza are living in famine. Since 2 March 2025, Israel has blocked all humanitarian supplies and life-saving assistance - constituting the longest total siege Gaza has ever experienced. UNICEF and OCHA have sounded the alarm: in Gaza, farmland has been destroyed, fishing waters are off-limits, bakeries and community kitchens are shutting down, food has run out, and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombardment. Children are “going to bed starving.” 92% of children under two and breastfeeding mothers are not receiving adequate nutrition. Hospitals have run out of blood, and those burned in explosions are left with no water to save them. 

UNRWA and the World Food Programme have exhausted their reserves, while Israel moves to dismantle the existing UN-run aid distribution system. On 11 April 2025, the Palestinian NGO Network declared that Gaza had entered an advanced stage of famine. This was followed by an official declaration from the State of Palestine designating the Gaza Strip as a famine zone and calling for urgent international intervention, including under Article 99 of the UN Charter. Deaths from famine are already occurring and are expected to rise sharply if conditions persist. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the entire population of Gaza is experiencing acute food insecurity, with half a million people facing starvation. There is a high risk that famine (IPC Phase 5 – Catastrophe) will soon materialise, making immediate action imperative.

Despite this catastrophic reality, over 3,000 aid trucks and 116,000 metric tonnes of food are ready and waiting to enter Gaza – obstructed solely by Israel. This is being done in open defiance of the core principles of international law, as reiterated in binding legal orders, including the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel - orders that remain ignored and unfulfilled over a year later.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said:

“Aid is non-negotiable…. The entry of assistance must be restored immediately…. There must be no hindrance in humanitarian aid.. This is not a time for ritualistically expressing support, ticking a box, and moving on.”

On 29 April 2025, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned of the total collapse of life-saving support, stating that:

“Third States have clear obligations under international law to ensure that such conduct stops immediately, and they must act accordingly.”

We therefore call for the immediate organisation and deployment of a Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing.

We urge states to join the humanitarian convoy by dispatching official diplomatic missions -at the highest possible level- to accompany the aid trucks already waiting at the Rafah Crossing, and to enter Gaza alongside them. This is an act of legal obligation, moral courage, and human solidarity. To that end, we demand the following:

1. We call on all states to publicly commit to joining the humanitarian convoy by dispatching official diplomatic missions to accompany the aid trucks into Gaza via the Rafah Crossing. A specific departure date will be announced soon. States must also reject the weaponisation of aid and Israel’s planned distribution mechanisms, which militarise relief efforts and bypass UN agencies and humanitarian actors.

2. We urge all states to coordinate with the United Nations and the Government of Egypt to facilitate the convoy’s entry and ensure the immediate, unhindered, and safe passage of humanitarian aid, medical teams, and relief workers.

3. While some governments complicit in the ongoing atrocities may choose not to participate, we call on individual diplomats, parliamentarians, and ministers from those countries to join the convoy in their personal capacities.

4. We urge international media outlets to accompany the convoy - to bear witness, to document the famine, and to expose the blockade starving Gaza.

5. We call on global civil society, including NGOs, trade unions, student groups, political parties, and solidarity networks, to mobilise immediately - to pressure governments to support the convoy and provide material, political, and public support.

6. We call on the United Nations to immediately declare Gaza a famine zone based on the verified data, and to support this unified call by actively facilitating, endorsing, and joining the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy.

This is a human imperative. A Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy would mark a historic step to break the siege, end the starvation, and affirm the world’s rejection of hunger as a weapon of war.

This call is grounded in international law, shared morality, Genocide Convention, the ICJ’s provisional measures, the UN Charter, and countless resolutions from the UN, OIC, Arab League, and the European and African Unions.

Inaction will lead to mass death by starvation, enable further grave illegalities, and undermine the international legal system. We are calling on you today to:

Let Gaza Live. End the Starvation. End the Siege. Open the Crossings.

Launch the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy - NOW

 

Signatories:

1.             Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man

2.             Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

3.             AMAN Coalition

4.             Arab Lawyer Union, Egypt

5.             Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development - Jordan

6.             Bisan Center for Research and Development

7.             Center for Constitutional Rights, New York

8.             Child Rights International Network (CRIN), United Kingdom

9.             Defence for Children International

10.          Doctors Against Genocide - USA

11.          Filastiniyat

12.          GENERAL UNION OF CULTURAL CENTERS

13.          GLAN | Global Legal Action Network - Ireland

14.          Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) - New York

15.          Health Work Committees

16.          IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation - Turkiye

17.          International Association of Democratic Lawyers - Brussels

18.          International Commission of Jurists, Norwegian section (ICJ Norway)

19.          International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) - Paris, France

20.          Jewish Network for Palestine - United Kingdom

21.          Jewish Voice for Peace - Hawai’i

22.          Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)

23.          Law for Palestine (UK)

24.          Legal Action for Peace - United Kingdom

25.          National Lawyers Guild International - United States

26.          Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights

27.          Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK

28.          Palestinian Bar Association

29.          Progressive Democrats of America

30.          The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), The Netherlands

31.          The Hind Rajab Foundation

32.          The International Commission for Supporting the Rights of the Palestinian People “Hashd”

33.          The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)

34.          The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)

35.          The Palestinian Centre for the Independence of Judiciary and Legal Profession - Musawa

36.          The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy - MIFTAH

37.          The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling

38.          Transnational Institute - Netherlands

39.          Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)

40.          Women’s Affairs Technical Committee - WATC

41.          Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS)

42.          Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation

43.          PWWSD Women Rights

44.          Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)

45.          Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Almarsad)

46.          The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL)

47.          The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”

48.          Sharek Youth Forum

49.          Al-Haq Europe

50.          Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

51.          Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD

52.          Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)

53.          The March 30 Movement - Brussels

54.          Olive Kids - The Australian Foundation for Palestinian Children

55.          British Palestinian Committee

56.          Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE) - Italy

57.          Defence for Children International Italia

58.          Scottish Anti-Racism Education

59.          Demokratischen Komitees Palästina - Germany

60.          Défense des enfants International Belgique

61.          People Before Profit Derry

62.          Neighbours NPO

63.          Anthropologists for Palestine, Italy

64.          Movement for Debt and Reparations - South Africa

65.          Abortion Rights Campaign Donegal

66.          Abogados Chilenos por Palestina - Chile

67.          Liberating Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa

68.          Save Our Sacred Lands

69.          United for Palestine - South Africa

70.          Islamic Forum - South Africa

71.          Methodist Church of Southern Africa

72.          We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA)

73.          Boycott Israeli Hardware Group - South Africa

74.          Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town

75.          Plataforma Pro-tram Sant Joan Mutxamel

76.          Avocats pour la Justice au Proche-Orient AJPO - France

77.          Enfield Community Action Group

78.          Progressive Democrats of America - Arizona

79.          Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine

80.          Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)

81.          The internatipnal committee for Breaking the siege of Gaza

82.          Group of 62O chilean lawyers - Chile

83.          Europal Forum

84.          Habaq for Human rights training and development

85.          Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association

86.          Edinburgh University Student Staff Assembly

87.          Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition

88.          Justice center for legal aid - Jordan

89.          Milford and District Resource Centre

90.          U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)

91.          Ealing Friends Of Palestine

92.          Architects for Gaza - Uk

93.          Tamkeen for legal aid and human rights

94.          World Peace Now ॐ - Australia

95.          Comunità Palestinese in Campania - Napoli

96.          Aksa Kadınları Derneği Ağrı - Türkiye

97.          Kudüs ve Hukuk Platformu - Türkiye

98.          Queer Folk®, Inc. - United States

99.          Cihannüma derneği - Türkiye

100.      Asociación Americana de Juristas - Panamá

101.      Seed of Love Hawai'i - Hawaii

102.      Human Rights Department - PLO

103.      Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)

104.      British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association 

105.      Friends of Sabeel North America, Claremont Chapter - USA

106.      Health Care Workers for Palestine - Maine

107.      Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights    Maine, USA

108.      Australia Palestine Advocacy Network

109.      Palestine Pulse (UK)

110.      MAA International - Australia

111.      International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement    

112.      World Beyond War Australia

113.      Passionists International    - United States

114.      Digital Memory Association - Turkiye

115.      International Association of Democratic Lawyers    - Philippines

116.      Community Action Center- Al-Quds University - Jersalem

117.      Khulumani Support Group    - South Africa

118.      Hawaii Peace and Justice

119.      U.S. Boats to Gaza - United States

120.      Rasheed Transparency International - Jordan

121.      East Clare for Palestine

122.      Phenix Center for Economics & Informatics Studies - Jordan

123.      Veterans for Peace-Hawai'i

124.      Makan Rights - UK

125.      United Against Racism Mayo - Ireland

126.      Newham Palestine Solidarity Network - London

127.      Balbriggan Palestine Solidarity Grouo

128.      We Belong Africa - South Africa

129.      Muslim Public Affairs Forum Committee - UK

130.      Community Action Redbridge

131.      Redbridge Palestine Solicarity Campaign

132.      Sari for Change - South Africa

133.      Widows for Peace through Democracy -    UK

134.      The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)

135.      South African Municipal Workers' Union    - South Africa

136.      Jewish Voice for Labour - UK

137.      Jewish Peaceniks UK

138.      Peace Appeal Foundation

139.      Gorey Youth Needs Group    Gorey - Ireland

140.      Seanad Civil Engagement Group - Ireland

141.      Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO

142.      Foundation for Human Rights - South Africa 

143.      Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA), Malaysia

144.      MA'AN Development Center, Palestine

145.      MontCo for Palestine, Lansdale

146.      Congregation of the Mission - Italy

147.      Center for Refugee Rights - AIDOUN, Lebanon

148.      Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town

149.      The Majed Abu Sharar Media Foundation (MASMF), Lebanon

150.      Good Energies Alliance Ireland

151.      Colchester Action for Palestine

152.      Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

153.      Gaza Action Ireland

154.      Mision Ezequiel Lugo Morales inc.    

155.      Frente de Capoeira pro Palestina, Ecuador

156.      Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, Palestine

157.      Red de Solidaridad Popular de Jinámar, Spain

158.      Salt River Heritage Society, South Africa

159.      Cloncannon Biofarm, Ireland

160.      End water poverty, UK

161.      Street Medicine Ireland

162.      Palestinian Union of the Deaf

163.      Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua, Central Amarica

164.      South African Jews for a Free Palestine

165.      Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine

166.      Socialist Lawyers Association of Ireland

167.      Comhlamh Justice for Palestine - Ireland

168.      Comision Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos CEDHU - Ecuador

169.      Congregations of St Joseph - NGO - USA

170.      Jews for Justice for Palestinians, UK

171.      South African Jews for a Free Palestine

172.      Campaign Against Arms Trade, United Kingdom

173.      Defence For Children - International Canada

174.      Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Ireland

175.      BDS Clare, Ireland

176.      Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine, UK

177.      Housing and Land Rights Network - Habitat International Coalition    Red Universitaria por Palestina, Spain

178.      Civil Engagement Group, Ireland

179.      A & A Rainbow Hearts Around The World, Poland

180.      VIVAT International, New York

181.      Scarborough Southwest for Palestine, Canada

182.      Women Working Group (WWG), Indonesia

183.      Forum of Computer Scientists for Peace and Social Responsibility, Germany

184.      Derry Branch of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

185.      Christian Aid, UK

186.      Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Germany

187.      SeRVE Indonesia, Indonesia

188.      National Union of Peoples Lawyers,    Philippines

189.      Global Jews for Palestine

190.      Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Doctors for Palestine

191.      Labor for Palestine, United States

192.      No Detention Centers in Michigan, USA

193.      Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition

194.      Hunter Asylum Seeker Advocacy, Australia

195.      Pax Christi International, Brussels

196.      Sh'ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ), New Zealand

197.      Frontline Film Foundation, Australia

198.      Young Christian Students Movement, South Africa

199.      Christian Action Movement, Johannesburg

200.      The Jordanian Federation of the Independent Trade Unions

201.      No Azure for Apartheid

202.      Al Amal Association for the Deaf, Palestine

203.      The Rights Forum, The Netherlands

204.      Extinction Rebellion Gauteng, South Africa

205.      Clare Solidarity Network, Ireland

206.      KZN monitor, Durban

207.      Xarxa UAB per Palestina

208.      Anglican church of Southern Africa

209.      Un Ponte Per, Italy

210.      KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, South Africa

211.      South Africa Palestine Movement

212.      Save Our Local Hospitals, London

213.      Scottish Universities Jewish Staff Network, Scotland

214.      The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia

215.      The Palestine Committee in Norway, Norway

216.      The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine, Norway

217.      Road to 50% APS, Italy

218.      Unión de Comités Autónomos de Agua del Oriente del Estado de México

219.      Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos "Segundo Montes Mozo SJ" (CSMM), Ecuador

220.      Défense des enfants international, France

221.      Asociación Americana de Juristas

222.      Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua - Nica

223.      Jews Against the Occupation ‘48, Australia

224.      Acción Palestina Chiapas, Mexico

225.      An Claíomh Glas, Ireland

226.      Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice, The Netherlands

227.      Social Workers for a Free Palestine, UK

228.      Global Coalition Against the Occupation in Palestine

229.      Action Reflection Community (ARC), South Africa

230.      Vivencias, Manaus Amazone Brazil

231.      Hackney Palestine Solidarity, London

232.      Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (Brisbane), Australia

233.      MENA Rights Group, Switzerland

234.      Earth Thrive, UK

235.      Menningar og friðarsamtökin MFÍK,    Iceland

236.      Friends of the Earth Ireland, Ireland

237.      European Water Movement, Belgium

238.      Medical Rights Advocacy Network (MeRAN)

239.      Pakistan Council on Family Relations, Pakistan

240.      Environmental Law Ireland at An Taisce

241.      Quaker Service Norway, Norway

242.      Norwegian People's Aid, Norway

243.      Coalition of Women for Justice and Peace  group, Australia

244.      Food Researchers in Edinburgh (FRIED)

254.      Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Boston, MA