ActionAid calls for urgent international action to end escalation of Israeli violence in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip, Occupied Palestinian Territory - According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health at least 33 Palestinians, including three women and six children have been killed, and more than 174 people injured, as the Israeli military offensive enters its fifth day against Gaza Strip. This escalation is accompanied by another Israeli escalation in West Bank Saturday 13th May where 2 Palestinians killed, 3 wounded during an Israeli raid on Balata refugee camp in Nablus in north of West Bank. According to the Ministry of Health, 150 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces since the start of the year.
ActionAid Palestine (AAP) strongly condemns Israel’s military escalation against Gaza Strip and is calling on the international community to immediately intervene to stop this military escalation before more civilians are lost. It is also calling for more pressure to be put on Israel to open Gaza crossings, ensuring the access and movement of people, medical supplies and humanitarian workers, along with fuel and food, in accordance with international principles.
This Israeli military operation is a new cycle of violence waged against Gaza Strip where 2 million people, half of them children, are still recovering from the devasting impacts of the latest Israeli aggression taking place last year as well as 16 years of illegal blockade.
This situation endangers the lives of Gazans and causes an increase in rates of food insecurity and damage to infrastructure.
ActionAid International is calling on the EU and the signatories of UN Geneva Convention, among the international community members, to put pressure on Israel to fulfil its international commitments with regard to provision of protection for civilians during war times in accordance with international law. We call on them to urgently take serious international actions that guarantee the end of Israeli policies of cessation of excessive force against civilians and illegal blockade.
ActionAid Palestine's local staff are on the ground, coordinating with partners and relevant actors, so they can start their humanitarian response as soon as possible. Women and girls will be at the forefront of ActionAid's response providing them with food, basic items and psychological support and counselling.
Background Information
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
For more information, please contact.
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Palestine
Mobile:
+972 (0) 595242890
Office:
+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137
Email: