International human rights organisations stated today, Tuesday, that “the day of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December, 1948, is a very significant moment for uniting the world to stop the genocidal crimes being committed today in full view of the world, which have been ongoing for 420 days.”

The organisations added in their appeal on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, a copy of which was sent to “Arabi21“: “The entire world came together after World War II and agreed that the declaration represents a promise by all of humanity not to repeat the crimes and violations committed during the war.”

The organisations and institutions that signed the appeal called for urgent and swift action to: take all necessary measures to stop the genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients, children, women and civilians in Gaza before it is too late; ensure the accountability of those responsible for the genocidal crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity; cease the export of weapons and ammunition to Israel and stop joint cooperation projects with it; and halt plans to obstruct international justice and criminalise attacks on what is stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The appeal from international human rights organisations mentioned that “the genocide being perpetrated by Israel since 7 October, 2023, in the Gaza Strip continues, resulting so far in the martyrdom of 44,363 Palestinian citizens, including 17,581 children, 12,048 women, 1,055 medical personnel, 190 journalists and 12,780 students. Israel has also completely destroyed 132 schools and universities and partially destroyed 348, as well as over 160,500 housing units. It has deliberately targeted 162 health institutions and 134 ambulances.”

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It added: “Currently, there are 12,650 wounded in Gaza who urgently require to travel abroad for treatment, and 12,500 cancer patients facing imminent death and requiring treatment. Israel has deprived 785,000 students of education, and over 2 million displaced individuals are enduring severe shortages of food and water while living under a total blockade. Over 2,300 bodies have been stolen from Gaza’s cemeteries, and more than 520 bodies have been exhumed from mass graves inside hospitals.”

It confirmed that “the horrific starvation policy being enforced by the Occupation forces in Gaza, especially in Jabaliya, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, continues, with more than 70,000 citizens, most of them children and women, facing death.”

The appeal continued: “These daily heinous massacres and ongoing atrocities committed by Israel constitute some of the gravest crimes against humanity and war crimes, which necessitates holding the perpetrators accountable and bringing them to international justice, with hundreds of documented cases of these horrific crimes.”

The signatory organisations include the International Union of Jurists in Geneva, Palestinian Return Centre in London, Geneva Centre for Democracy and Human Rights in Switzerland, International Federation for Human Rights in Brussels, Belgium, International Solidarity Foundation in Switzerland, Geneva Council for International Relations and Development, International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights “Hashd”, the Global Trade Union Coalition for Solidarity with Jerusalem and Palestine, Jerusalem Charity Endowment in Sweden, One Justice for Human Rights in France, Lawyers for Justice in the Middle East Association, the Palestinian House in Netherlands, the General Assembly for Human Rights, Democracy, and Solidarity, Karama Observatory for Transparency, Justice and Rights Organisation in Canada, Freedom and Minority Rights Observatory in Canada, Together for Freedom and Justice Association in Norway, Partners for Peace and Justice in Switzerland, the Free Palestine Alliance in Canada, the Loyal Irish Union, Free Writers and Thinkers Union South Africa, Association of Palestinians in Italy and Free for Justice Alliance in Venezuela.

The intense Israeli bombing of various areas of Gaza Strip continues, especially in the northern governorate, where the Israeli army has been committing a military operation since 5 October, which began with a new ground invasion of the area under the pretext of “preventing Hamas from regaining strength in the region”.

With US support, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip since 7 October, 2023, resulting in over 150,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of whom are children and women, over 11,000 missing, and widespread destruction and famine that has killed dozens of children and elderly, in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

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