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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- We urge international media outlets to accompany the convoy – to bear witness, to document the famine, and to expose the blockade starving Gaza.
- 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.
- 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
#DiplomaticConvoyNow
Signatories (continuously updated):
- Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man
- Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
- AMAN Coalition
- Arab Lawyer Union, Egypt
- Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development – Jordan
- Bisan Center for Research and Development
- Center for Constitutional Rights, New York
- Child Rights International Network (CRIN), United Kingdom
- Defence for Children International
- Doctors Against Genocide – USA
- Filastiniyat
- GENERAL UNION OF CULTURAL CENTERS
- GLAN | Global Legal Action Network – Ireland
- Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) – New York
- Health Work Committees
- IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation – Turkiye
- International Association of Democratic Lawyers – Brussels
- International Commission of Jurists, Norwegian section (ICJ Norway)
- International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) – Paris, France
- Jewish Network for Palestine – United Kingdom
- Jewish Voice for Peace – Hawai’i
- Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)
- Law for Palestine (UK)
- Legal Action for Peace – United Kingdom
- National Lawyers Guild International – United States
- Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK
- Palestinian Bar Association
- Progressive Democrats of America
- The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), The Netherlands
- The Hind Rajab Foundation
- The International Commission for Supporting the Rights of the Palestinian People “Hashd”
- The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)
- The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)
- The Palestinian Centre for the Independence of Judiciary and Legal Profession – Musawa
- The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH
- The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling
- Transnational Institute – Netherlands
- Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)
- Women’s Affairs Technical Committee – WATC
- Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS)
- Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation
- PWWSD Women Rights
- Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
- Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Almarsad)
- The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL)
- The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”
- Sharek Youth Forum
- Al-Haq Europe
- Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
- Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD
- Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)
- The March 30 Movement – Brussels
- Olive Kids – The Australian Foundation for Palestinian Children
- British Palestinian Committee
- Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE) – Italy
- Defence for Children International Italia
- Scottish Anti-Racism Education
- Demokratischen Komitees Palästina – Germany
- Défense des enfants International Belgique
- People Before Profit Derry
- Neighbours NPO
- Anthropologists for Palestine, Italy
- Movement for Debt and Reparations – South Africa
- Abortion Rights Campaign Donegal
- Abogados Chilenos por Palestina – Chile
- Liberating Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa
- Save Our Sacred Lands
- United for Palestine – South Africa
- Islamic Forum – South Africa
- Methodist Church of Southern Africa
- We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA)
- Boycott Israeli Hardware Group – South Africa
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
- Plataforma Pro-tram Sant Joan Mutxamel
- Avocats pour la Justice au Proche-Orient AJPO – France
- Enfield Community Action Group
- Progressive Democrats of America – Arizona
- Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine
- Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)
- The internatipnal committee for Breaking the siege of Gaza
- Group of 62O chilean lawyers – Chile
- Europal Forum
- Habaq for Human rights training and development
- Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association
- Edinburgh University Student Staff Assembly
- Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition
- Justice center for legal aid – Jordan
- Milford and District Resource Centre
- S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
- Ealing Friends Of Palestine
- Architects for Gaza – Uk
- Tamkeen for legal aid and human rights
- World Peace Now ॐ – Australia
- Comunità Palestinese in Campania – Napoli
- Aksa Kadınları Derneği Ağrı – Türkiye
- Kudüs ve Hukuk Platformu – Türkiye
- Queer Folk®, Inc. – United States
- Cihannüma derneği – Türkiye
- Asociación Americana de Juristas – Panamá
- Seed of Love Hawai’i – Hawaii
- Human Rights Department – PLO
- Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)
- British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association
- Friends of Sabeel North America, Claremont Chapter – USA
- Health Care Workers for Palestine – Maine
- Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights Maine, USA
- Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
- Palestine Pulse (UK)
- MAA International – Australia
- International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement
- World Beyond War Australia
- Passionists International – United States
- Digital Memory Association – Turkiye
- International Association of Democratic Lawyers – Philippines
- Community Action Center- Al-Quds University – Jersalem
- Khulumani Support Group – South Africa
- Hawaii Peace and Justice
- S. Boats to Gaza – United States
- Rasheed Transparency International – Jordan
- East Clare for Palestine
- Phenix Center for Economics & Informatics Studies – Jordan
- Veterans for Peace-Hawai’i
- Makan Rights – UK
- United Against Racism Mayo – Ireland
- Newham Palestine Solidarity Network – London
- Balbriggan Palestine Solidarity Grouo
- We Belong Africa – South Africa
- Muslim Public Affairs Forum Committee – UK
- Community Action Redbridge
- Redbridge Palestine Solicarity Campaign
- Sari for Change – South Africa
- Widows for Peace through Democracy – UK
- The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)
- South African Municipal Workers’ Union – South Africa
- Jewish Voice for Labour – UK
- Jewish Peaceniks UK
- Peace Appeal Foundation
- Gorey Youth Needs Group Gorey – Ireland
- Seanad Civil Engagement Group – Ireland
- Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO
- Foundation for Human Rights – South Africa
- Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA), Malaysia
- MA’AN Development Center, Palestine
- MontCo for Palestine, Lansdale
- Congregation of the Mission – Italy
- Center for Refugee Rights – AIDOUN, Lebanon
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
- The Majed Abu Sharar Media Foundation (MASMF), Lebanon
- Good Energies Alliance Ireland
- Colchester Action for Palestine
- Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
- Gaza Action Ireland
- Mision Ezequiel Lugo Morales inc.
- Frente de Capoeira pro Palestina, Ecuador
- Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, Palestine
- Red de Solidaridad Popular de Jinámar, Spain
- Salt River Heritage Society, South Africa
- Cloncannon Biofarm, Ireland
- End water poverty, UK
- Street Medicine Ireland
- Palestinian Union of the Deaf
- Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua, Central Amarica
- South African Jews for a Free Palestine
- Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine
- Socialist Lawyers Association of Ireland
- Comhlamh Justice for Palestine – Ireland
- Comision Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos CEDHU – Ecuador
- Congregations of St Joseph – NGO – USA
- Jews for Justice for Palestinians, UK
- South African Jews for a Free Palestine
- Campaign Against Arms Trade, United Kingdom
- Defence For Children – International Canada
- Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Ireland
- BDS Clare, Ireland
- Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine, UK
- Housing and Land Rights Network – Habitat International Coalition Red Universitaria por Palestina, Spain
- Civil Engagement Group, Ireland
- A & A Rainbow Hearts Around The World, Poland
- VIVAT International, New York
- Scarborough Southwest for Palestine, Canada
- Women Working Group (WWG), Indonesia
- Forum of Computer Scientists for Peace and Social Responsibility, Germany
- Derry Branch of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
- Christian Aid, UK
- Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Germany
- SeRVE Indonesia, Indonesia
- National Union of Peoples Lawyers, Philippines
- Global Jews for Palestine
- Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Doctors for Palestine
- Labor for Palestine, United States
- No Detention Centers in Michigan, USA
- Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
- Hunter Asylum Seeker Advocacy, Australia
- Pax Christi International, Brussels
- Sh’ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ), New Zealand
- Frontline Film Foundation, Australia
- Young Christian Students Movement, South Africa
- Christian Action Movement, Johannesburg
- The Jordanian Federation of the Independent Trade Unions
- No Azure for Apartheid
- Al Amal Association for the Deaf, Palestine
- The Rights Forum, The Netherlands
- Extinction Rebellion Gauteng, South Africa
- Clare Solidarity Network, Ireland
- KZN monitor, Durban
- Xarxa UAB per Palestina
- Anglican church of Southern Africa
- Un Ponte Per, Italy
- KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, South Africa
- South Africa Palestine Movement
- Save Our Local Hospitals, London
- Scottish Universities Jewish Staff Network, Scotland
- The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia
- The Palestine Committee in Norway, Norway
- The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine, Norway
- Road to 50% APS, Italy
- Unión de Comités Autónomos de Agua del Oriente del Estado de México
- Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos “Segundo Montes Mozo SJ” (CSMM), Ecuador
- Défense des enfants international, France
- Asociación Americana de Juristas
- Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua – Nica
- Jews Against the Occupation ‘48, Australia
- Acción Palestina Chiapas, Mexico
- An Claíomh Glas, Ireland
- Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, The Netherlands
- Social Workers for a Free Palestine, UK
- Global Coalition Against the Occupation in Palestine
- Action Reflection Community (ARC), South Africa
- Vivencias, Manaus Amazone Brazil
- Hackney Palestine Solidarity, London
- Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (Brisbane), Australia
- MENA Rights Group, Switzerland
- Earth Thrive, UK
- Menningar og friðarsamtökin MFÍK, Iceland
- Friends of the Earth Ireland, Ireland
- European Water Movement, Belgium
- Medical Rights Advocacy Network (MeRAN)
- Pakistan Council on Family Relations, Pakistan
- Environmental Law Ireland at An Taisce
- Quaker Service Norway, Norway
- Norwegian People’s Aid, Norway
- Coalition of Women for Justice and Peace group, Australia
- Food Researchers in Edinburgh (FRIED)
- Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Boston, MA
