Press Release from International Human Rights and Legal Organizations Regarding the U.S. Envoy's Denial of Famine in Gaza

A press release issued by international human rights and legal organizations regarding the denial of famine in the Gaza Strip by the American envoy

The international human rights and legal organizations signed below express their strong condemnation and absolute rejection of the recent statements made by the American envoy to the Middle East, Mr. Steve Wittekov, in which he denied the existence of famine in the Gaza Strip. These statements come in complete disregard of the documented field facts and international reports that confirm the existence of an unprecedented humanitarian disaster threatening the lives of more than two million Palestinians.

In light of this denial of reality, we affirm the following:

Evidence cannot be erased by statements: Famine in Gaza is a tangible reality that has claimed the lives of 159 individuals, including 90 children, a documented figure that reflects the magnitude of the crime that cannot be justified or denied. This humanitarian crisis affects everyone without exception, including Israeli prisoners who have shown signs of hunger and malnutrition in recorded videos.

Call for an international investigation committee: We urge the United Nations and the Security Council to swiftly send an independent international investigation committee to the Gaza Strip to directly assess the catastrophic conditions faced by the civilian population and to investigate the policy of systematic starvation as a war crime.

Immediate and criminal accountability: We demand that the International Criminal Court (ICC) expedite its investigations into the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, including the crime of starvation, and hold all parties involved accountable.

Immediate and permanent ceasefire: We call on the international community to impose an immediate and permanent ceasefire to ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and to protect civilians, relief teams, and medical workers.

Allowing journalists to enter: We demand that the international community exert immediate pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to allow all journalists and reporters from news agencies and newspapers to enter the Gaza Strip, after more than ten months of media ban aimed at obscuring the crimes of genocide and starvation.

Call to involved governments: We issue a clear call to the governments that support the policy of starvation or contribute to obstructing the delivery of aid, such as the United States, to bear their legal and moral responsibility and to commit to ensuring the delivery of essential aid.

Signatories

• The Network of Conscience - The International Network Against Genocide, Displacement, Siege, and Normalization

• Free Voice for Human Rights - France

• Al-Shehab for Human Rights - London

• Al-Karama for Human Rights - Geneva

• Victims of Torture Association - Geneva

• Justice Foundation for Human Rights - Istanbul

• FIDH International - Belgium

• Tawasul for Human Rights - The Hague

• Human Rights Monitor - London

• Cedar for Human Rights - Lebanon

• Solidarity for Human Rights - Geneva

• Council for Egyptian Rights - Geneva

• Arab Center for Freedom of Media

• Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms

• Najda for Human Rights Organization