Palestinian Foreign Ministry Calls for Decisive International Action to Stop Genocide and Famine in the Gaza Strip – Before it is Too Late
Palestinian Foreign Ministry Calls for Decisive International Action to Stop Genocide and Famine in the Gaza Strip – Before it is Too Late
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine has called on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to deal with utmost seriousness the findings of the report issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) as the first globally authoritative report confirming the occurrence of famine in the Gaza Strip in accordance with UN standards, as well as the statement issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Both underscore that Israel, the occupying power, is destroying every aspect of human life in the Gaza Strip and using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinian civilians.
The IPC report is clear, leaving no room for any interpretation or speculation about the occurrence of famine in the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry commends the IPC report and calls for decisive international action to compel Israel, the occupying power, to immediately stop its crimes of genocide, forced displacement, and annexation. This is the only way to halt the famine and prevent its spread, and the only way to ensure the opening of the crossings, sustained entry of humanitarian aid, and the urgent commencement of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry also urges the relevant international justice mechanisms to assume their legal and moral responsibilities towards the perpetrators of this man-made famine, including by upholding international law in addressing all acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing committed against the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stresses that what is required now – before it is too late – is to deploy the full weight of the international community, in all its forms and modalities, to halt the famine immediately and end the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on Famine in Gaza:
Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added: “famine”.
This is not a mystery -- it is a man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself. Famine is not only about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival. People are starving. Children are dying. And those with the duty to act are failing. As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law – including the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies of the population. We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity.
No more excuses. The time for action is not tomorrow -- it is now. We need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and full, unfettered humanitarian access.