The future of the Palestinian people is under threat

The people of Gaza have withstood almost 20 months of intense conflict and a man-made humanitarian crisis.

More than 53,000 people have died, more than 120,000 injured. [1] They have been repeatedly subjected to a blockade on aid, the denial of critical services like water and power, and continuous military action which has caused widespread death, injury and trauma, and the repeated displacement and breakup of families. People with disabilities, children and older people have lost their support networks. Livelihoods have been destroyed. Health and welfare systems decimated. The situation is unimaginable. The civilian population is desperately in need of basic assistance (food, shelter, healthcare), with around 2 million people standing on the brink of famine. Above all, peace, security, and a respect for their rights and dignity as human beings.

Triggered by the unconscionable actions of Hamas fighters on October 7^th 2023, which killed over 1,270 Israeli citizens and foreign nationals, injured and traumatised over 4,800, and captured over 250 hostages, the Government of Israel launched a response which is disproportionate and cruel. The International Court of Justice determined in July 2025 that the Government of Israel has repeatedly broken international law, and had failed to meet its obligations to protect and ensure humanitarian assistance for the civilian population. And since then the situation has worsened. A brief ceasefire offered a glimpse of security, the return of hostages, and increased humanitarian assistance. The Government of Israel broke the ceasefire, renewed and intensified military actions, and reinstated the siege of Gaza. Now the population of Gaza stands on the brink of famine, established and independent humanitarian actors are being side-lined to be replaced by a US and Israeli-controlled system, and the very future of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank is under threat.

We must act now to prevent a famine, to prevent the forced displacement of the Palestinian people and to have the hostages and all those who have been arbitrarily detained returned home. We must act now to lend our voices to those seeking a peaceful and just future for all in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The statements and actions of the UK Government this week on the Occupied Palestinian Territories are welcome – but it is too little, too late.

To quote Tom Fletcher, head of UNOCHA we must act now “to stop the 21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza.” [2]

The shooting dead in Washington this week in the name of Palestinian freedom of two Israeli embassy officials, reportedly attending a meeting aiming to build peace between Israelis and Palestinians, is one more horror in this conflict and this crisis. We should not let their lives and actions to build peace and understanding be in vain. It is time to act.

^{[1] UNOCHA, citing MOH figures. Lancet report suggests figures may be much higher, Washington Institute for Near East Policy study concluded MOH figures are credible.
[2] https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163206}