LONDON: Sixteen international humanitarian and rights organizations on Wednesday called for a halt to arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian groups in a bid to end the conflict in Gaza.
In a joint statement they asked the United Nations member countries to stop sending weapons and ammunition to stop the Gaza crisis and avoid further humanitarian catastrophe and loss of civilian life.
“Israel’s bombardment and siege are depriving the civilian population of the basics to survive and rendering Gaza uninhabitable,” the statement added.
It said that the civilian population in Gaza is facing immense humanitarian crisis of a very large scale.
The war has led to dire shortages of water, fuel, food and medicines in the besieged enclave.
The 16 signatories include Amnesty International, Medecins du Monde International Network, Norwegian People’s Aid, Christian Aid, Oxfam and Save the Children.
They call for all transfers of weapons to be immediately stopped as there is a risk they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.
Israeli military destroys substantial part of Gaza
According to the statement Israeli military has destroyed a substantial part of Gaza’s homes, hospitals, water infrastructure, schools, shelters, and refugee camps.
It noted that not a single medical facility in Gaza is fully functional and those still able to operate have been overwhelmed with trauma cases and shortages of both doctors and medical supplies.
Meanwhile, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has reported that the death toll from ongoing relentless Israeli military bombardment has surpassed 24,700 mostly women and children, since October 7.
The ministry in the statement said at least 210 people have been killed and 386 injured in the past 24 hours. It further said that 61,830 people have also been injured in the Palestinian territory during the war.
