During the past several days, Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza, following more than ten weeks during which it blocked all entry of aid and other goods to the Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement last night that Israel will allow entry of “a basic amount of food for the population” in order to continue the war demonstrates that Israel has no intention to stop its unlawful use of aid as a lever of political pressure.

Every day, the Israeli army is killing and injuring hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza. All residents of the Strip are at risk of famine, while the healthcare system is collapsing due to severe shortages of medicine, medical equipment, and fuel. Israel is deliberately inflicting conditions that make life impossible in Gaza, with the declared goal of carrying out ethnic cleansing.

Israel must stop the attacks and allow immediate entry of aid!

The plan being formulated by the US and Israel for distribution of goods does not meet gaping humanitarian needs created by the blockade and widespread attacks. The UN and other international humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza have categorically rejected the plan on the grounds that it does not adhere to basic humanitarian principles.

Israel has openly declared that the plan aims to advance its goals of expanding its physical presence in Gaza and forcibly transferring the civilian population. Israel’s commission of war crimes, which could also amount to crimes against humanity, must not be met with continued silence and inaction by the international community.

We call again for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. Simultaneously, Israel must immediately stop its attacks, cease its policy of starvation, open the crossings for entry of aid to Gaza, and allow aid organizations in the Strip to carry out their work.

Signed Organizations:

Academia for Equality | Akevot | B’tselem | Bimkom Planners for Planning Rights | Breaking the Silence | Culture of Solidarity | Combatants for Peace | Emek Shave | Gisha | HaMoked | Ir Amim | Isha L’Isha | Itach Ma’aki | Jahalin Solidarity | Jordan Valley Activists | Looking the Occupation in the Eye | Machsom Watch | Mizrahi Civic Collective | Mothers Against Violence | Neve Shalom | Other Voice | Osot Democratia | Oz Veshalom | Policy Working Group | Physicians for Human Rights Israel | The Parent’s Circle – Family Forum | The School for Peace in Wahat Al-Salam Neve Shalom | Psychoactive | Rabbi’s for Human Rights | The Association for Civil Rights in Israel | This is Not An Ulpan | Yesh Din | Your Neighbor as Yourself | Zazim.