Embrace the Middle East is among over 600 charities from across the globe who have signed the #CeasefireNow petition, an open call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and further loss of innocent lives.
The open letter, reproduced below, calls on all Heads of State, the UN Security Council, and actors on the ground, to prioritize the preservation of human life above all else.
Individuals can also sign the petition.
#CeasefireNow: Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives
We have witnessed unfathomable death and destruction in the Gaza Strip and Israel. Thousands of people have been killed, injured, displaced, and nearly two hundred remain held hostage, including children and elderly.
In Gaza, the UN has said that water, food, fuel, medical supplies, and even body bags, are running out due to the siege. The UN warned that people – particularly young children – will soon start dying of severe dehydration. Neighbourhoods have been destroyed and turned into complete rubble. Palestinians in search of safety have nowhere to go. Many of those who relocated from northern Gaza to the south after the relocation order by the Israeli army were reportedly bombed as they attempted to flee or once they arrived in southern Gaza.
The events of the last week have led us to the precipice of a humanitarian catastrophe and the world can no longer wait to act. It is our collective responsibility.
On Sunday, October 15th, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator to the Occupied Palestinian Territory appealed to all parties to the conflict, and to Member States with influence, to urgently agree to a humanitarian ceasefire.
Today, we put our voices together and call on all Heads of State, the UN Security Council, and actors on the ground, to prioritize the preservation of human life above all else. During this ceasefire, we call on all parties to unconditionally:
1. Facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance, including food, medical supplies, fuel, and the resumption of electricity and internet to Gaza, in addition to safe passage of humanitarian and medical staff
2. Free all civilian hostages, especially children and elderly
3. Allow humanitarian convoys to reach UN facilities, schools, hospitals, and health facilities in northern Gaza and commit to protecting them along with the civilians and staff inside them at all times
4. Rescind orders by the Government of Israel for civilians to depart northern Gaza
5. Allow patients in critical condition to be medically evacuated for urgent care
The UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General and all world leaders with influence must take immediate action to ensure a ceasefire comes into effect. It remains our only option to avert further loss of civilian life and humanitarian catastrophe. Anything less will forever be a stain on our collective conscience.
Civilians are not bargaining chips. Families need a chance to bury and mourn their dead. The cycle of violence against innocent civilians needs to stop.
Signatories
- 11.11.11
- 38 Degrees
- 50:50 NI
- ABCD Bethlehem
- Abductees Mothers Association
- ACTION AGAINST HUNGER
- Action Corps
- Action For Humanity
- ActionAid International
- Africans Rising
- Afro-Middle East Centre
- Agriculture Developmrnt Associations PARC
- Al Basma Club for the Disabled
- Alliance Internationale -AIDL
- Alquds center for Political Studies
- Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action)
- Americares
- Amos Trust
- Anera
- AOI
- Arab foundation for civil society and human rights
- Arab NGO Network for Development
- Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz
- Asociación Otra Escuela
- Association of War Affected Women
- Avaaz
- Baptist Union of Wales
- Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine
- bina
- Bond, the UK network for INGOs
- Broederlijk Delen
- Bytes For All, Pakistan
- Caesar Families Association
- CAFOD
- Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
- Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
- Carolina Peace Center
- Care International
- CCFD-Terre Solidaire
- Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights
- Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
- Center for Human Rights in Iran
- Center for Peace Education, Miriam College
- Centre for human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED)
- Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy -CPRA
- CESVI
- cfd – The feminist Peace Organisation
- Change Horizons Forum
- ChildFund Alliance
- Christian Aid
- Christian Aid Ireland
- Church World Service
- Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
- CIDSE
- CISP
- CISS – COOPERAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE SUD SUD
- CIVICUS
- CNCD-11.11.11
- Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Asia Pacific
- COPE Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti
- COSPE
- Council for Arab-British Understanding
- Council on American-Islamic Relations
- CRIC – Centro Regionale d’Intervento per la Cooperazione ETS
- Culturel Center Beethoven Bettounssi
- DanChurchAid
- Danish Refugee Council
- Daraj Media
- DC Peace Team
- Defense Foundation for Rights and Freedom
- Denis Hurley Peace Institute
- Diakonia
- Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality
- EL SPACE
- Embrace the Middle East
- Entraide & Fraternité
- Episcopal Relief & Development
- Escola de Cultura de Pau (School for a Culture of Peace)
- Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor
- European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
- European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (ECR2P)
- Fédération Internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH)
- Feminist Task Force
- Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid
- Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
- France Palestine Mental Health Network
- Friends Committee on National Legislation
- Friends of Nablus and Surrounding areas (FONSA)
- Fundación Cultura de Paz
- FUNDACIÓN MUNDUBAT
- Futuro en Común
- Gandhi Development Trust Phoenix Settlement Trust
- Gender Action for Peace and Security
- Gender Advisory Team
- Genera: Red de mujeres feministas por la equidad de género en el desarrollo
- Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
- Global Communities
- Global Justice Center
- Global Justice Now
- Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
- Global Rights
- GPPAC Pacific-Pacific Women Mediators Network
- Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion
- Haliéus
- Health Poverty Action
- HEKS/EPER – Swiss Church Aid
- Helen Suzman Foundation
- HelpAge International
- HIAS
- Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS”
- Human Rights Sentinel
- ICNA
- ICNA Council for Social Justice
- ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ)
- IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
- IM Swedish Development Partner
- Ina autra senda – Swiss Friends of Combatants for Peace
- Institute for Security Studies
- International Federation for Human Rights
- INTERSOS
- Islamic Center of Detroit
- Islamic Relief
- Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions UK- UK
- Jewish Network for Palestine
- Jewish Voice for Democracy and Justice in Israel/Palestine jvjp, Switzerland
- Jews Against The Occupation Sydney
- Jusoor Center for Studies and Development
- Kairos Palestine
- Kairos Palestine Sweden
- Kenya Human Rights Commission
- KURVE Wustrow – Centre for Training and Networking in Nonviolent Action e.V.
- La Coordinadora de ONGD -España
- Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights
- Liberian Energy Network
- Ligue Algérienne de Défense des Droits de l’Homme – LADDH
- Lutheran World Federation
- MADRE
- Marib Girls Foundation
- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- MDM Network
- Médecins Du Monde – Spain
- Médecins Du Monde – Switzerland
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
- medico international
- medico international schweiz
- Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
- Mercy Corps
- Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
- Middle East and North Africa Partnership for Preventing of Armed Conflict – MENAPPAC
- Middle East Children’s Alliance
- Migrant Roots Media
- Min Haqi Foundation to empower women politically and economically
- Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre (Australian Province)
- Misereor
- Mouvement Social
- Musaala Organization for Human Rights
- Muslim Aid
- Muslim Legal Fund of America
- Mwatana for Human Rights
- Naseef Muallem
- National Cancer Control Foundatin – Yemen
- Network of the independent Commission for Human rights in North Africa CIDH AFRICA
- NGO SPES
- NGOs Platform of Saida – Tajamoh
- Nobel Women’s Initiative
- Nonviolence Network in the Arab Countries
- Nonviolent Peaceforce
- Nophotozone
- North American Imams Fellow
- Norwegian Church Aid
- Norwegian Refugee Council
- Oxfam
- Palestinian Human Rights Organisation “PHRO”
- PAX
- Pax Christi Australia
- Pax Christi International
- Pax Christi USA
- Peace Direct
- Peace Organization for Peaceful Coexistence
- Peace Watch Switzerland
- Peacemaker Trust
- Permanent Peace Movement
- Piattaforma OSC italiane in Medio Oriente e Mediterraneo
- Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine
- PREMIERE URGENCE INTERNATIONALE
- Première Urgence Internationale
- Project on Middle East Democracy
- Protection Approaches
- PVE for Peace
- Rebuilding Alliance
- ReThinking Foreign Policy
- Revista La Mar de Onuba
- Right to Movement Palestine
- Romanian Peace Institute – PATRIR
- Roshanka
- Sabeel
- Sabeel Kairos Norway
- Sabeel-Kairos UK
- Save the Children
- SALAM NGO
- SAM Organization for Rights and Libertie
- Sanad alBasra Organization for Human Rights
- Save the Children
- SB Overseas Soutien Belge
- Search for Common Ground
- Secours Islamique France (SIF)
- SEEN.TV
- Seenaryo
- Sheba Youth Foundation
- Shining Star educational organization of Afghanistan
- Social Development Hodeida Girls Foundation
- Solutions for a Small Planet
- SOS Children’s Villages Palestine
- Study sky academy
- SUDS – International association of solidarity and cooperation
- Syrian American Medical Society
- Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).
- Syrians for Truth and Justice
- Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights
- Tanzania Community Health Information and Support
- Terre des Hommes Italia
- Terre des hommes Foundation Lausanne
- The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation
- The Episcopal Church
- The Foundation for Middle East Peace
- The Khalifa Ihler Institute
- The Mosque Cares | Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed
- The Palestinian Return Centre
- UJFP ACAT
- UK-Palestine Mental Health Network
- United Against Inhumanity
- United Nations Association – UK
- University Network for Human Rights
- UOSSM International
- US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)
- Vento di Terra
- Viva Salud
- Vrede vzw
- War Child Sweden
- War Child Holland
- War Child UK
- War on Want
- Welfare Association (UK)
- WESPAC Foundation, Inc.
- WeWorld
- WeWorld – Member of ChildFund Alliance
- Womankind Worldwide
- Women for Peace
- Women for Women International
- Women in Black Vienna
- Women Political Alliance – Kenya
- Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)
- Women’s Institute for Leadership Development
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK
- Women’s International Peace Centre
- Womens Refugee Commission
- Worldwide Women’s Forum
- Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
- Youth Vision Society
- Youths Volunteering for Sustainable Development (YOVSUD)
- Northern Friends Peace Board
- Coexist Community kitchen CIC
- Foro Ciudadano Relaciones Celac-UE
- STOPAIDS
- Innovation for Change South Asia
- Women for Women International
- Peace Committee, 15th St. Friends Meeting, NYC
- Human Life Foundation for Development and Relief
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- UN Youth Association of Romania – Cluj Branch
- Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque
- The United Church of Canada
- Ajyal Foundation for Education
- Schengen Peace Foundation
- Church and Peace – Ecumenical peace church network in Europe
- Democracy School
- Cotidiana Mujer AFM
- RefuAid
- Reclaim The Sea
- The Pickwell Foundation
- Global Link
- Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
- The Center for Mind Body Medicine
- City of Sanctuary Sheffield
- Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
- Humans for Rights Network
- English for Action (EFA) London
- Plan International USA
- Medact
- Counterpoints Arts
- Salam For Yemen
- European Network on Statelessness
- CARAS
- World Student Christian Federation
- the3million
- Shma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices of NZ
- IPMHN Ireland Palestine Mental Health Network
- Israelisches Komitee gegen Hauszerstörungen (ICAHD) Germany
- International Rescue Committee
- ASSOPACEPALESTINA
- Educo Member of ChildFund Alliance
- Refugee Support Group
- Association Ifriqiya
- Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights
- DanChurchAid
- Mercy Corps
- North West Migrants Forum
- Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights
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