Humanitarian assistance and access are not tools of warfare or negotiations and must not be accepted as such. They are an obligation. The Israeli government’s actions, which have resulted in the deprivation of basic necessities for 2.2 million Palestinians, are a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Lindsey Hutchison, Head of Global Humanitarian Policy, Advocacy and Diplomacy at Plan International says “We call for the immediate cessation of all hostilities in Gaza and demand that Israel, as the occupying power, urgently lift the blockade and ensure the unhindered delivery of aid to those in need. The lives of 2.2 million Palestinians hang in the balance, many of whom are homeless and facing a daily struggle to survive due to the near-total destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and critical civilian infrastructure by the Israeli forces over the past 16 months of conflict.
“Among the most vulnerable are over 1 million children, many of whom have been injured, separated from their families, and exposed to unimaginable dangers. Palestinian children cannot endure any more conflict. It is imperative that the international community and all relevant parties act now to safeguard their lives and well-being and ensure full and unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of Gaza.”
