UNIFIED CALL TO CONFRONT FAMINE IN GAZA: LAUNCH THE DIPLOMATIC HUMANITARIAN CONVOY NOW

UNIFIED CALL TO CONFRONT FAMINE IN GAZA: LAUNCH THE DIPLOMATIC HUMANITARIAN CONVOY NOW 

12th May 2025

Palestinian civil society, joined by humanitarian and human rights organisations worldwide, issues this urgent and unified call: The manufactured famine in Gaza must be halted. The international community must act decisively, immediately, and with full moral and legal responsibility.

We are witnessing, in real time, the deliberate starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare. Over two million Palestinians in Gaza are living in famine. Since 2 March 2025, Israel has blocked all humanitarian supplies and life-saving assistance – constituting the longest total siege Gaza has ever experienced. UNICEF and OCHA have sounded the alarm: in Gaza, farmland has been destroyed, fishing waters are off-limits, bakeries and community kitchens are shutting down, food has run out, and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombardment. Children are “going to bed starving.” 92% of children under two and breastfeeding mothers are not receiving adequate nutrition. Hospitals have run out of blood, and those burned in explosions are left with no water to save them. 

UNRWA and the World Food Programme have exhausted their reserves, while Israel moves to dismantle the existing UN-run aid distribution system. On 11 April 2025, the Palestinian NGO Network declared that Gaza had entered an advanced stage of famine. This was followed by an official declaration from the State of Palestine designating the Gaza Strip as a famine zone and calling for urgent international intervention, including under Article 99 of the UN Charter. Deaths from famine are already occurring and are expected to rise sharply if conditions persist. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the entire population of Gaza is experiencing acute food insecurity, with half a million people facing starvation. There is a high risk that famine (IPC Phase 5 – Catastrophe) will soon materialise, making immediate action imperative.

Despite this catastrophic reality, over 3,000 aid trucks and 116,000 metric tonnes of food are ready and waiting to enter Gaza – obstructed solely by Israel. This is being done in open defiance of the core principles of international law, as reiterated in binding legal orders, including the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel – orders that remain ignored and unfulfilled over a year later.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said:

“Aid is non-negotiable…. The entry of assistance must be restored immediately…. There must be no hindrance in humanitarian aid.. This is not a time for ritualistically expressing support, ticking a box, and moving on.”

On 29 April 2025, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned of the total collapse of life-saving support, stating that:

“Third States have clear obligations under international law to ensure that such conduct stops immediately, and they must act accordingly.”

We therefore call for the immediate organisation and deployment of a Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing.

We urge states to join the humanitarian convoy by dispatching official diplomatic missions -at the highest possible level- to accompany the aid trucks already waiting at the Rafah Crossing, and to enter Gaza alongside them. This is an act of legal obligation, moral courage, and human solidarity. To that end, we demand the following:

1. We call on all states to publicly commit to joining the humanitarian convoy by dispatching official diplomatic missions to accompany the aid trucks into Gaza via the Rafah Crossing. A specific departure date will be announced soon. States must also reject the weaponisation of aid and Israel’s planned distribution mechanisms, which militarise relief efforts and bypass UN agencies and humanitarian actors.

2. We urge all states to coordinate with the United Nations and the Government of Egypt to facilitate the convoy’s entry and ensure the immediate, unhindered, and safe passage of humanitarian aid, medical teams, and relief workers.

3. While some governments complicit in the ongoing atrocities may choose not to participate, we call on individual diplomats, parliamentarians, and ministers from those countries to join the convoy in their personal capacities.

4. We urge international media outlets to accompany the convoy – to bear witness, to document the famine, and to expose the blockade starving Gaza.

5. We call on global civil society, including NGOs, trade unions, student groups, political parties, and solidarity networks, to mobilise immediately – to pressure governments to support the convoy and provide material, political, and public support.

6. We call on the United Nations to immediately declare Gaza a famine zone based on the verified data, and to support this unified call by actively facilitating, endorsing, and joining the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy.

This is a human imperative. A Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy would mark a historic step to break the siege, end the starvation, and affirm the world’s rejection of hunger as a weapon of war.

This call is grounded in international law, shared morality, Genocide Convention, the ICJ’s provisional measures, the UN Charter, and countless resolutions from the UN, OIC, Arab League, and the European and African Unions.

Inaction will lead to mass death by starvation, enable further grave illegalities, and undermine the international legal system. We are calling on you today to:

Let Gaza Live. End the Starvation. End the Siege. Open the Crossings.

Launch the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy – NOW

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Signatories (continuously updated):

* To add the name of your orgnization/institute among the signatories, please fill in the form at the end of the page – below:

1. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man

2. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

3. Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights

4. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)

5. Law for Palestine (UK)

6. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)

7. The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)

8. The Palestinian Centre for the Independence of Judiciary and legal profession – Musawa

9. Filastiniyat

10. GENERAL UNION OF CULTURAL CENTERS

11. Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation

12. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH

13. The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling

14. The International Commission for Supporting the Rights of the Palestinian People “Hashd”

15. PWWSD Women Rights

16. Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)

17. Women’s Affairs Technical Committee -WATC

18. AMAN Coalition

19. Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Almarsad)

20. The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL)

21. The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”

22. Sharek Youth Forum

23. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) – Paris, France

24. GLAN | Global Legal Action Network – Ireland

25. Doctors Against Genocide – USA

26. Health Work Committees

27. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) – New York

28. Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)

29. Defence for children International

30. Bisan Center for Research and Development

31. Al-Haq Europe

32. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

33. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD

34. Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)

35. The March 30 Movement – Brussels

36. The Hind Rajab Foundation

37. Olive Kids – The Australian Foundation for Palestinian Children

38. British Palestinian Committee

39. Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE) – Italy

40. Defence for Children International Italia

41. Scottish Anti-Racism Education

42. Demokratischen Komitees Palästina – Germany

43. Défense des enfants International Belgique

44. People Before Profit Derry

45. Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS)

46. Neighbours NPO

47. Anthropologists for Palestine, Italy

48. Movement for Debt and Reparations – South Africa

49. Abortion Rights Campaign Donegal

50. Abogados Chilenos por Palestina – Chile

51. Transnational Institute – Netherlands

52. Liberating Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa

53. Save Our Sacred Lands

54. United for Palestine – South Africa

55. Islamic Forum – South Africa

56. Methodist Church of Southern Africa

57. We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA)

58. Boycott Israeli Hardware Group – South Africa

59. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town

60. Plataforma Pro-tram Sant Joan Mutxamel

61. Avocats pour la Justice au Proche-Orient AJPO – France

62. Enfield Community Action Group

63. Progressive Democrats of America – Arizona

64. Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine

65. Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)

66. The internatipnal committee for Breaking the siege of Gaza

67. Group of 62O chilean lawyers – Chile

68. Europal Forum

69. Habaq for Human rights training and development

70. Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association

71. Edinburgh University Student Staff Assembly

72. Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition

73. Progressive Democrats of America

74. Justice center for legal aid – Jordan

75. Milford and District Resource Centre

76. U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)

77. Ealing Friends Of Palestine

78. Architects for Gaza – Uk

79. Tamkeen for legal aid and human rights

80. Jewish Network for Palestine – United Kingdom

81. World Peace Now ॐ – Australia

82. Comunità Palestinese in Campania – Napoli

83. Aksa Kadınları Derneği Ağrı – Türkiye

84. Kudüs ve Hukuk Platformu – Türkiye

85. Queer Folk®, Inc. – United States

86. Cihannüma derneği – Türkiye

87. Asociación Americana de Juristas – Panamá

88. Seed of Love Hawai’i – Hawaii

89. Human Rights Department – PLO

90. Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)

91. British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association 

92. Friends of Sabeel North America, Claremont Chapter – USA

93. National Lawyers Guild International – United States

94. Health Care Workers for Palestine – Maine

95. Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights    Maine, USA

96. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network

97. Palestine Pulse (UK)

98. MAA International – Australia

99. International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement    

100. World Beyond War Australia

101. Legal Action for Peace – United Kingdom

102. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation – Turkiye

103. Passionists International    – United States

104. Digital Memory Association – Turkiye

105. International Association of Democratic Lawyers    – Philippines

106. Community Action Center- Al-Quds University – Jersalem

107. Khulumani Support Group    – South Africa

108. Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaiâ

109. Hawaii Peace and Justice

110. U.S. Boats to Gaza – United States

111. Rasheed Transparency International – Jordan

112. East Clare for Palestine

113. Phenix Center for Economics & Informatics Studies – Jordan

114. Veterans for Peace-Hawai’i

115. Makan Rights – UK

116. United Against Racism Mayo – Ireland

117. Newham Palestine Solidarity Network – London

118. Balbriggan Palestine Solidarity Grouo

119. Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development – Jordan

120. We Belong Africa – South Africa

121. Muslim Public Affairs Forum Committee – UK

122. Community Action Redbridge

123. Redbridge Palestine Solicarity Campaign

124. Sari for Change – South Africa

125. Widows for Peace through Democracy –    UK

126. The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)

127. South African Municipal Workers’ Union    – South Africa

128. Jewish Voice for Labour – UK

129. Jewish Peaceniks UK

130. Peace Appeal Foundation

131. Gorey Youth Needs Group    Gorey – Ireland

132. Seanad Civil Engagement Group – Ireland

133. Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK

134. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO

135. Foundation for Human Rights – South Africa

136. International Commission of Jurists, Norwegian section (ICJ Norway)    

137. Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA), Malaysia

138. MA’AN Development Center, Palestine

139. International Association of Democratic Lawyers  – Brussels

140. MontCo for Palestine, Lansdale

141. Congregation of the Mission – Italy

142. Center for Refugee Rights – AIDOUN, Lebanon

143. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town

144. The Majed Abu Sharar Media Foundation (MASMF), Lebanon

145. Good Energies Alliance Ireland

146. Colchester Action for Palestine

147. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

148. Gaza Action Ireland

149. Mision Ezequiel Lugo Morales inc.    

150. Frente de Capoeira pro Palestina, Ecuador

151. Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, Palestine

152. Red de Solidaridad Popular de Jinámar, Spain

153. Salt River Heritage Society, South Africa

154. Cloncannon Biofarm, Ireland

155. End water poverty, UK

156. Street Medicine Ireland

157. Palestinian Union of the Deaf

158. Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua, Central Amarica

159. South African Jews for a Free Palestine

160. Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine

161. Socialist Lawyers Association of Ireland

162. Comhlamh Justice for Palestine – Ireland

163. Comision Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos CEDHU – Ecuador

164. Congregations of St Joseph – NGO – USA

165. Jews for Justice for Palestinians, UK

166. South African Jews for a Free Palestine

167. Campaign Against Arms Trade, United Kingdom

168. Defence For Children – International Canada

169. Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Ireland

170. BDS Clare, Ireland

171. Arab Lawyer Union, Egypt

172. Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine, UK

173. Housing and Land Rights Network – Habitat International Coalition    Red Universitaria por Palestina, Spain

174. Civil Engagement Group, Ireland

175. A & A Rainbow Hearts Around The World, Poland

176. Center for Constitutional Rights, New York

177. VIVAT International, New York

178. Scarborough Southwest for Palestine, Canada

179. Women Working Group (WWG), Indonesia

180. Forum of Computer Scientists for Peace and Social Responsibility, Germany

181. Derry Branch of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

182. Christian Aid, UK

183. Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Germany

184. SeRVE Indonesia, Indonesia

185. National Union of Peoples Lawyers,    Philippines

186. Global Jews for Palestine

187. Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Doctors for Palestine

188. Labor for Palestine, United States

189. No Detention Centers in Michigan, USA

190. Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition

191. Hunter Asylum Seeker Advocacy, Australia

192. Pax Christi International, Brussels

193. Sh’ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ), New Zealand

194. Frontline Film Foundation, Australia

195. Young Christian Students Movement, South Africa

196. Christian Action Movement, Johannesburg

197. Palestinian Bar Association    

198. The Jordanian Federation of the Independent Trade Unions

199. No Azure for Apartheid

200. Al Amal Association for the Deaf, Palestine

201. The Rights Forum, The Netherlands

202. Extinction Rebellion Gauteng, South Africa

203. Clare Solidarity Network, Ireland

204. KZN monitor, Durban

205. Xarxa UAB per Palestina

206. Anglican church of Southern Africa

207. Un Ponte Per, Italy

208. Child Rights International Network (CRIN), United Kingdom

209. KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, South Africa

210. South Africa Palestine Movement

211. Save Our Local Hospitals, London

212. Scottish Universities Jewish Staff Network, Scotland

213. The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia

214. The Palestine Committee in Norway, Norway

215. The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine, Norway

216. Road to 50% APS, Italy

217. Unión de Comités Autónomos de Agua del Oriente del Estado de México

218. Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos «Segundo Montes Mozo SJ» (CSMM), Ecuador

219. Défense des enfants international, France

220. Asociación Americana de Juristas

221. Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua – Nica

222. Jews Against the Occupation ‘48, Australia

223. Acción Palestina Chiapas, Mexico

224. An Claíomh Glas, Ireland

225. Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, The Netherlands

226. Social Workers for a Free Palestine, UK

227. Global Coalition Against the Occupation in Palestine

228. Action Reflection Community (ARC), South Africa

229. Vivencias, Manaus Amazone Brazil

230. Hackney Palestine Solidarity, London

231. Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (Brisbane), Australia

232. MENA Rights Group, Switzerland

233. Earth Thrive, UK

234. Menningar og friðarsamtökin MFÍK,    Iceland

235. Friends of the Earth Ireland, Ireland

236. European Water Movement, Belgium

237. Medical Rights Advocacy Network (MeRAN)

238. Pakistan Council on Family Relations, Pakistan

239. Environmental Law Ireland at An Taisce

240. Quaker Service Norway, Norway

241. Norwegian People’s Aid, Norway

242. The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), The Netherlands

243. Coalition of Women for Justice and Peace  group, Australia

244. Food Researchers in Edinburgh (FRIED)

245. Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Boston, MA

246. France Palestine Mental Health Network, France

247. Deutsch-Palästinensische Gesellschaft, Germany

248. Climate Action Network Arab World

249. FIAN International, Germany

250. Climate Action Network (CAN) Zambia

251. Not On Our Dime, Pittsburgh, PA

252. ACT Ubumbano, South Africa

253. Good Health Community Programmes, Kenya

254. Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa, Tanzania

255. ALTSEAN-Burma

256. Masifundise Development Trust, South Africa

257. Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie, Germany

258. Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI), France

259. Friends of Swazi Freedom

260. Franciscans International, Switzerland

261. Terra Nuova, Italy

262. Schola Campesina Aps, Italy

263. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Tunis

264. PEOPLES FEDERATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (PEFENAP), MALAWI (AFRICA)

265. Seek The Alternatives, Canada

266. Soroptimist International, UK

267. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), Canada

268. Peace SOS, The Netherlands

269. Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, SAFCE

270. UK-Palestine Child Psychotherapists, UK

271. Plant-for-the-Planet Brazil

272. Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development (HI), Nigeria

273. Climate Action Network (CAN), Europe/Belgium

274. Perth Mums for Palestine, Perth – Western Australia

275. Engajamundo Youth Association, Brazil

276. Eurochild, Belgium

277. The Center for Advancement in Heart Based Education, Texas

278. WE The World, New York

279. A United Earth, Texas/Netherlands

280. Agricultural Justice Project, USA

281. Women for Peace, Finland

282. Friends of Sabeel North America (MI), Michigan

283. Frantz Fanon Foundation            

284. No Pride in Policing Collective,   Toronto

285. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Ghana

286. Peace Action, USA

287. Scholar Strike Canada, Toronto

288. Palestine Solidarity Campaign SA, Cape Town

289. Streetwise Transformers, Kenya

290. Le Questionnement Psychanalytique, Brussels

291. Center for International Environmental Law, USA

292. GRUPO AMBIENTALISTA DA BAHIA – GAMBÃ, BRASIL    

293. A Most Perfect Love Foundation, United States

294. Muslim Peace Fellowship, United States

295. Health workers 4 Palestine, United Kingdom

296. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, United States

297. Ecologistas en Acción, Spain

298. Climate Action Network (CAN) International, Global

299. High Peak Green New Deal, UK

300. UNAforWomen, Vienna

301. Mater Fondazione, Switzerland

302. Federation of Young European Greens, Belgium

303. Communnity Organizing Center, USA

304. AUPA Asamblea Universitaria por Palestina de Alicante, Spain

305. Palestinian-Canadian Academics and Artists Network (PCAAN), Canada

306. Montreal for a World BEYOND War, Canada

307. Maine Coalition for Palestine, Maine, USA

308. Environmentalists Against War, USA

309. Christian-Jewish Allies for A Just Peace for Israel-Palestine, Philadelphia/SE PA

310. Vermont Peace/AntiWar Coalition (VPAC), USA

311. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – Norway

312. UK-Palestine Mental Health Network, United Kingdom

313. Palestine Vivra, Montreal

314. Institute Climate Politics, Brazil

315. Seven Sisters Collective, Turtle island

316. Brazilian Climate Observatory (Observatório do Clima, OC), Brazil

317. World March of Women, Kenya               

318. Women Against Military Madness, Minnesota, U

319. United Church of Christ Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (formerly UCC PIN)

320. Islamic Society of Greater Lansing, USA

321. Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel/Palestine, UK

322. Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL)            

323. Palestinian Youth Movement, U.S.A.

324. U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice — Rome, Italy

325. Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, USA

326. Climate Action Network Southeast Asia Malaysia

327. Platform Vrouwen & Duurzame Vrede, Holland

328. Workers World Party, U.S.A.

329. The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America  and the Caribbean, United States

330. International Coalition to Stop Genocide in Palestine

331. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand

332. Ontario Palestinian Rights Association, Canada

333. Family Therapists for Palestine, UK

334. Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, Australia

335. Physician for Human Rights Israel, Israel

336. Parliamentarians for Global Action, The Hague

337. Associação Angá, Brazil

338. Civilian Peace Service Canada, Canada

339. Massachusetts Peace Action, Massachusetts

340. Nicaragua Solidarity Organization             

341. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK

342. Mujeres de Negro contra la Guerra-Madrid, Spain

343. PEACE2000 INSTITUTE, Iceland

344. Academics for Palestine, Ireland

345. Marrickville Peace Group, Sydney, Australia