Several non-governmental organizations today called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a massive increase in humanitarian aid to prevent famine in the territory, which is home to more than two million Palestinians.
It is an obligation under international humanitarian law to provide civilians with access to humanitarian assistance, these groups emphasized in a joint statement.
The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing daily due to ongoing hostilities and the Israeli blockade, the statement said.
The statement criticized the use of famine as a method of war and recalled that “starving the civilian population is illegal under international humanitarian law and is in direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417.”
He also questioned the Israeli military's siege tactics, bombing of densely populated areas and the country's refusal to send humanitarian aid missions to the northern Gaza Strip.
“Infants, young children and pregnant women are currently more at risk than before the escalation of the conflict,” the document warned.
He stressed that grossly inadequate access to food, water and life-saving services puts these groups at greater risk of suffering from malnutrition and disease, increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity.
The declaration is signed by Action Against Hunger, ActionAid, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Save the Children, among others.