New York: 108 Arab human rights networks have issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council, calling for an immediate end to what they describe as genocide and demanding the lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, the human rights networks addressed a petition to the Security Council, urging it to meet its legal, moral, and humanitarian obligations. The petition calls for swift action to stop the systemic killing through starvation and deprivation of water, lift the blockade deemed as collective punishment under international law, and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid, including essential supplies, goods, and fuel needed for hospitals and water facilities.
The networks further demanded that the Security Council impose international sanctions on Israel, halt the acts of genocide and starvation, fully lift the blockade, and consider suspending Israel’s membership in the General Assembly. They highlighted that the Gaza Strip has been under a sustained state of conflict for 576 days, with severe humanitarian and health crises exacerbated by the blockade that has been in place for 64 days. This blockade has resulted in the closure of all crossings for humanitarian aid, food, medicine, and the complete prevention of fuel entry.
The appeal outlines the severe impact on the region, including a critical shortage of water, the shutdown of sewage treatment plants, a near-total collapse of health services, and halted hospital operations. Citing relief organizations and the United Nations, the networks reported that 91% of the Gaza Strip’s population is experiencing crisis-level food insecurity, with 345,000 people classified in the most severe phase. They also noted that 92% of children and breastfeeding mothers are not receiving sufficient nutrition, risking long-term health issues.
