Unified call to confront famine in Gaza: Launch the diplomatic humanitarian convoy now

Anas Zeyad Fteha / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP

Palestinian civil society, joined by humanitarian and human rights organisations worldwide, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), issue 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.

15 May 2025. 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 United Nations (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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

4. We urge international media outlets to accompany the convoy - to bear witness, to document the famine, and to expose the blockade starving Gaza.

5. 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.

6. 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

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  • Co-signatories

    Signatories (continuously updated):
    1. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man
    2. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
    3. AMAN Coalition
    4. Arab Lawyer Union, Egypt
    5. Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development - Jordan
    6. Bisan Center for Research and Development
    7. Center for Constitutional Rights, New York
    8. Child Rights International Network (CRIN), United Kingdom
    9. Defence for Children International
    10. Doctors Against Genocide - USA
    11. Filastiniyat
    12. GENERAL UNION OF CULTURAL CENTERS
    13. GLAN | Global Legal Action Network - Ireland
    14. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) - New York
    15. Health Work Committees
    16. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation - Turkiye
    17. International Association of Democratic Lawyers - Brussels
    18. International Commission of Jurists, Norwegian section (ICJ Norway)
    19. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) - Paris, France
    20. Jewish Network for Palestine - United Kingdom
    21. Jewish Voice for Peace - Hawai’i
    22. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)
    23. Law for Palestine (UK)
    24. Legal Action for Peace - United Kingdom
    25. National Lawyers Guild International - United States
    26. Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights
    27. Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK
    28. Palestinian Bar Association
    29. Progressive Democrats of America
    30. The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), The Netherlands
    31. The Hind Rajab Foundation
    32. The International Commission for Supporting the Rights of the Palestinian People “Hashd”
    33. The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)
    34. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)
    35. The Palestinian Centre for the Independence of Judiciary and Legal Profession - Musawa
    36. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy - MIFTAH
    37. The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling
    38. Transnational Institute - Netherlands
    39. Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)
    40. Women’s Affairs Technical Committee - WATC
    41. Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS)
    42. Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation
    43. PWWSD Women Rights
    44. Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
    45. Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Almarsad)
    46. The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL)
    47. The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”
    48. Sharek Youth Forum
    49. Al-Haq Europe
    50. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
    51. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD
    52. Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)
    53. The March 30 Movement - Brussels
    54. Olive Kids - The Australian Foundation for Palestinian Children
    55. British Palestinian Committee
    56. Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE) - Italy
    57. Defence for Children International Italia
    58. Scottish Anti-Racism Education
    59. Demokratischen Komitees Palästina - Germany
    60. Défense des enfants International Belgique
    61. People Before Profit Derry
    62. Neighbours NPO
    63. Anthropologists for Palestine, Italy
    64. Movement for Debt and Reparations - South Africa
    65. Abortion Rights Campaign Donegal
    66. Abogados Chilenos por Palestina - Chile
    67. Liberating Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa
    68. Save Our Sacred Lands
    69. United for Palestine - South Africa
    70. Islamic Forum - South Africa
    71. Methodist Church of Southern Africa
    72. We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA)
    73. Boycott Israeli Hardware Group - South Africa
    74. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
    75. Plataforma Pro-tram Sant Joan Mutxamel
    76. Avocats pour la Justice au Proche-Orient AJPO - France
    77. Enfield Community Action Group
    78. Progressive Democrats of America - Arizona
    79. Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine
    80. Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)
    81. The internatipnal committee for Breaking the siege of Gaza
    82. Group of 62O chilean lawyers - Chile
    83. Europal Forum
    84. Habaq for Human rights training and development
    85. Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association
    86. Edinburgh University Student Staff Assembly
    87. Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition
    88. Justice center for legal aid - Jordan
    89. Milford and District Resource Centre
    90. S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
    91. Ealing Friends Of Palestine
    92. Architects for Gaza - Uk
    93. Tamkeen for legal aid and human rights
    94. World Peace Now ॐ - Australia
    95. Comunità Palestinese in Campania - Napoli
    96. Aksa Kadınları Derneği Ağrı - Türkiye
    97. Kudüs ve Hukuk Platformu - Türkiye
    98. Queer Folk®, Inc. - United States
    99. Cihannüma derneği - Türkiye
    100. Asociación Americana de Juristas - Panamá
    101. Seed of Love Hawai’i - Hawaii
    102. Human Rights Department - PLO
    103. Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)
    104. British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association
    105. Friends of Sabeel North America, Claremont Chapter - USA
    106. Health Care Workers for Palestine - Maine
    107. Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights  Maine, USA
    108. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
    109. Palestine Pulse (UK)
    110. MAA International - Australia
    111. International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement
    112. World Beyond War Australia
    113. Passionists International  - United States
    114. Digital Memory Association - Turkiye
    115. International Association of Democratic Lawyers  - Philippines
    116. Community Action Center- Al-Quds University - Jersalem
    117. Khulumani Support Group  - South Africa
    118. Hawaii Peace and Justice
    119. S. Boats to Gaza - United States
    120. Rasheed Transparency International - Jordan
    121. East Clare for Palestine
    122. Phenix Center for Economics & Informatics Studies - Jordan
    123. Veterans for Peace-Hawai’i
    124. Makan Rights - UK
    125. United Against Racism Mayo - Ireland
    126. Newham Palestine Solidarity Network - London
    127. Balbriggan Palestine Solidarity Grouo
    128. We Belong Africa - South Africa
    129. Muslim Public Affairs Forum Committee - UK
    130. Community Action Redbridge
    131. Redbridge Palestine Solicarity Campaign
    132. Sari for Change - South Africa
    133. Widows for Peace through Democracy -  UK
    134. The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)
    135. South African Municipal Workers’ Union  - South Africa
    136. Jewish Voice for Labour - UK
    137. Jewish Peaceniks UK
    138. Peace Appeal Foundation
    139. Gorey Youth Needs Group  Gorey - Ireland
    140. Seanad Civil Engagement Group - Ireland
    141. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO
    142. Foundation for Human Rights - South Africa
    143. Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA), Malaysia
    144. MA’AN Development Center, Palestine
    145. MontCo for Palestine, Lansdale
    146. Congregation of the Mission - Italy
    147. Center for Refugee Rights - AIDOUN, Lebanon
    148. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
    149. The Majed Abu Sharar Media Foundation (MASMF), Lebanon
    150. Good Energies Alliance Ireland
    151. Colchester Action for Palestine
    152. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
    153. Gaza Action Ireland
    154. Mision Ezequiel Lugo Morales inc.
    155. Frente de Capoeira pro Palestina, Ecuador
    156. Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, Palestine
    157. Red de Solidaridad Popular de Jinámar, Spain
    158. Salt River Heritage Society, South Africa
    159. Cloncannon Biofarm, Ireland
    160. End water poverty, UK
    161. Street Medicine Ireland
    162. Palestinian Union of the Deaf
    163. Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua, Central Amarica
    164. South African Jews for a Free Palestine
    165. Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine
    166. Socialist Lawyers Association of Ireland
    167. Comhlamh Justice for Palestine - Ireland
    168. Comision Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos CEDHU - Ecuador
    169. Congregations of St Joseph - NGO - USA
    170. Jews for Justice for Palestinians, UK
    171. South African Jews for a Free Palestine
    172. Campaign Against Arms Trade, United Kingdom
    173. Defence For Children - International Canada
    174. Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Ireland
    175. BDS Clare, Ireland
    176. Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine, UK
    177. Housing and Land Rights Network - Habitat International Coalition  Red Universitaria por Palestina, Spain
    178. Civil Engagement Group, Ireland
    179. A & A Rainbow Hearts Around The World, Poland
    180. VIVAT International, New York
    181. Scarborough Southwest for Palestine, Canada
    182. Women Working Group (WWG), Indonesia
    183. Forum of Computer Scientists for Peace and Social Responsibility, Germany
    184. Derry Branch of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
    185. Christian Aid, UK
    186. Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Germany
    187. SeRVE Indonesia, Indonesia
    188. National Union of Peoples Lawyers,  Philippines
    189. Global Jews for Palestine
    190. Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Doctors for Palestine
    191. Labor for Palestine, United States
    192. No Detention Centers in Michigan, USA
    193. Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
    194. Hunter Asylum Seeker Advocacy, Australia
    195. Pax Christi International, Brussels
    196. Sh’ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ), New Zealand
    197. Frontline Film Foundation, Australia
    198. Young Christian Students Movement, South Africa
    199. Christian Action Movement, Johannesburg
    200. The Jordanian Federation of the Independent Trade Unions
    201. No Azure for Apartheid
    202. Al Amal Association for the Deaf, Palestine
    203. The Rights Forum, The Netherlands
    204. Extinction Rebellion Gauteng, South Africa
    205. Clare Solidarity Network, Ireland
    206. KZN monitor, Durban
    207. Xarxa UAB per Palestina
    208. Anglican church of Southern Africa
    209. Un Ponte Per, Italy
    210. KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, South Africa
    211. South Africa Palestine Movement
    212. Save Our Local Hospitals, London
    213. Scottish Universities Jewish Staff Network, Scotland
    214. The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia
    215. The Palestine Committee in Norway, Norway
    216. The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine, Norway
    217. Road to 50% APS, Italy
    218. Unión de Comités Autónomos de Agua del Oriente del Estado de México
    219. Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos "Segundo Montes Mozo SJ" (CSMM), Ecuador
    220. Défense des enfants international, France
    221. Asociación Americana de Juristas
    222. Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua - Nica
    223. Jews Against the Occupation ‘48, Australia
    224. Acción Palestina Chiapas, Mexico
    225. An Claíomh Glas, Ireland
    226. Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, The Netherlands
    227. Social Workers for a Free Palestine, UK
    228. Global Coalition Against the Occupation in Palestine
    229. Action Reflection Community (ARC), South Africa
    230. Vivencias, Manaus Amazone Brazil
    231. Hackney Palestine Solidarity, London
    232. Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (Brisbane), Australia
    233. MENA Rights Group, Switzerland
    234. Earth Thrive, UK
    235. Menningar og friðarsamtökin MFÍK,  Iceland
    236. Friends of the Earth Ireland, Ireland
    237. European Water Movement, Belgium
    238. Medical Rights Advocacy Network (MeRAN)
    239. Pakistan Council on Family Relations, Pakistan
    240. Environmental Law Ireland at An Taisce
    241. Quaker Service Norway, Norway
    242. Norwegian People’s Aid, Norway
    243. Coalition of Women for Justice and Peace group, Australia
    244. Food Researchers in Edinburgh (FRIED)
    245. Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Boston, MA
    246. France Palestine Mental Health Network, France
    247. Deutsch-Palästinensische Gesellschaft, Germany
    248. Climate Action Network Arab World
    249. FIAN International, Germany
    250. Climate Action Network (CAN) Zambia
    251. Not On Our Dime, Pittsburgh, PA
    252. ACT Ubumbano, South Africa
    253. Good Health Community Programmes, Kenya
    254. Climate Action Network (CAN) Africa, Tanzania
    255. ALTSEAN-Burma
    256. Masifundise Development Trust, South Africa
    257. Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie, Germany
    258. Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI), France
    259. Friends of Swazi Freedom
    260. Franciscans International, Switzerland
    261. Terra Nuova, Italy
    262. Schola Campesina Aps, Italy
    263. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Tunis
    264. PEOPLES FEDERATION FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT (PEFENAP), MALAWI (AFRICA)
    265. Seek The Alternatives, Canada
    266. Soroptimist International, UK
    267. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), Canada
    268. Peace SOS, The Netherlands
    269. Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, SAFCE
    270. UK-Palestine Child Psychotherapists, UK
    271. Plant-for-the-Planet Brazil
    272. Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development (HI), Nigeria
    273. Climate Action Network (CAN), Europe/Belgium
    274. Perth Mums for Palestine, Perth - Western Australia
    275. Engajamundo Youth Association, Brazil
    276. Eurochild, Belgium
    277. The Center for Advancement in Heart Based Education, Texas
    278. WE The World, New York
    279. A United Earth, Texas/Netherlands
    280. Agricultural Justice Project, USA
    281. Women for Peace, Finland
    282. Friends of Sabeel North America (MI), Michigan
    283. Frantz Fanon Foundation      
    284. No Pride in Policing Collective, Toronto
    285. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Ghana
    286. Peace Action, USA
    287. Scholar Strike Canada, Toronto
    288. Palestine Solidarity Campaign SA, Cape Town
    289. Streetwise Transformers, Kenya
    290. Le Questionnement Psychanalytique, Brussels
    291. Center for International Environmental Law, USA
    292. GRUPO AMBIENTALISTA DA BAHIA - GAMBÃ, BRASIL  
    293. A Most Perfect Love Foundation, United States
    294. Muslim Peace Fellowship, United States
    295. Health workers 4 Palestine, United Kingdom
    296. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, United States
    297. Ecologistas en Acción, Spain
    298. Climate Action Network (CAN) International, Global
    299. High Peak Green New Deal, UK
    300. UNAforWomen, Vienna
    301. Mater Fondazione, Switzerland
    302. Federation of Young European Greens, Belgium
    303. Communnity Organizing Center, USA
    304. AUPA Asamblea Universitaria por Palestina de Alicante, Spain
    305. Palestinian-Canadian Academics and Artists Network (PCAAN), Canada
    306. Montreal for a World BEYOND War, Canada
    307. Maine Coalition for Palestine, Maine, USA
    308. Environmentalists Against War, USA
    309. Christian-Jewish Allies for A Just Peace for Israel-Palestine, Philadelphia/SE PA
    310. Vermont Peace/AntiWar Coalition (VPAC), USA
    311. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom - Norway
    312. UK-Palestine Mental Health Network, United Kingdom
    313. Palestine Vivra, Montreal
    314. Institute Climate Politics, Brazil
    315. Seven Sisters Collective, Turtle island
    316. Brazilian Climate Observatory (Observatório do Clima, OC), Brazil
    317. World March of Women, Kenya        
    318. Women Against Military Madness, Minnesota, U
    319. United Church of Christ Movement for Palestinian Solidarity (formerly UCC PIN)
    320. Islamic Society of Greater Lansing, USA
    321. Progressive Jews for Justice in Israel/Palestine, UK
    322. Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL)      
    323. Palestinian Youth Movement, U.S.A.
    324. S. Citizens for Peace & Justice — Rome, Italy
    325. Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, USA
    326. Climate Action Network Southeast Asia Malaysia
    327. Platform Vrouwen & Duurzame Vrede, Holland
    328. Workers World Party, U.S.A.
    329. The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, United States
    330. International Coalition to Stop Genocide in Palestine
    331. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand
    332. Ontario Palestinian Rights Association, Canada
    333. Family Therapists for Palestine, UK
    334. Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, Australia
    335. Physician for Human Rights Israel, Israel
    336. Parliamentarians for Global Action, The Hague
    337. Associação Angá, Brazil
    338. Civilian Peace Service Canada, Canada
    339. Massachusetts Peace Action, Massachusetts
    340. Nicaragua Solidarity Organization       
    341. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK
    342. Mujeres de Negro contra la Guerra-Madrid, Spain
    343. PEACE2000 INSTITUTE, Iceland
    344. Academics for Palestine, Ireland
    345. Marrickville Peace Group, Sydney, Australia
    346. Just Peace Queensland, Australia
    347. Family Farm Defenders, USA
    348. New Jersey Peace Action, USA
    349. Conscience Canada, Canada
    350. Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace,  Canada
    351. Meta Peace Team, United States
    352. Pax Christi Michigan, USA
    353. Operação Amazônia Nativa, Brazil
    354. Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine Israel, Canada
    355. Pax Christi New York State, USA
    356. Pax Christi Dallas  Dallas, USA
    357. Pax Christi New Jersey, USA
    358. Fields of Peace, USA
    359. Lansing Area Peace Education Center, USA
    360. Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, Australia
    361. Middle East Ministry - All Saints Pasadena, USA
    362. Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, Australia
    363. Asian Rural Women’s Coalition
    364. Pacific Islands Climate Action Network
    365. Peace-seeking Iranian Veterans, Iran/U.S.
    366. Pax Christi Little Rock  Little Rock, USA
    367. Fagforbundet - Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, Norway
    368. Jewish Women 4 Peace Action Ready Group, Australia
    369. Polo Europeo della Conoscenza, Italy
    370. Cultura È Libertà, Italy
    371. Popular Struggle Coordination Committee, Palestine
    372. Urgenci – International Network for Community Supported, France
    373. Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), Vanuatu
    374. Ecoclimate Vision, Democratic Republic of Congo
    375. Association de Solidarité Inter-Peuples, France
    376. Association France Palestine Solidarité, France
    377. International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), United Kingdom
    378. Christian Aid, United Kingdom
    379. Association of Jungian Analysts (AJA), London
    380. Global Justice Now, UK
    381. University and College Union Scotland, UK
    382. Centre Delàs of Peace Studies, Barcelona
    383. Women for Peace, Stockholm
    384. Haki Nawiri Afrika, Kenya

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