Take Action On Palestine

The Nakba in 1948 (also known as the Palestinian catastrophe) was the destruction of Palestinian society and displacement of Palestinian Arabs. Gaza has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967. They have responsibilities as occupying power but have instead created an air, land and sea blockade of Gaza since 2007. The Gaza Strip, considered “the world's largest open-air prison,” is a narrow strip of enclave between Israel and Egypt. Over two million Palestinians live in the 140-square-mile enclave, making it one of the most densely populated places on earth. Israeli state operates apartheid against the Palestinians, and, as of October 14th (2023) the United Nations experts have warned of new instance of mass ethnic cleansing of all Palestinians, aligning with the definition of genocide.

Over a million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from north Gaza with 24-hours notice. Gaza has a population of 2.3 million on land the size of the Isle of Wight (but 17x more densely populated). Due to its geographic position, it is incredibly difficult for occupants in the north to leave, meaning many civilians, families and children, are essentially trapped, whilst their land and lives are being destroyed due to the massive bombardment: 6000 bombs in 6 days. To add to this horror, the food, water, electricity and gas supplies have been cut off. The health system is on verge of collapse, as death toll of children rises to over 1000 (16/10/23), 150,000 pregnant women need care and infectious diseases loom due to sanitation crisis. Gazans are being stripped of basic essentials for survival, whilst further impeding their ability to leave; considered a “collective punishment” on innocent lives.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, (article 25) first laid down the right to food in international law, as part of the right to an adequate standard of living. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (article 27) says that children and young people should be able to live in a way that helps them reach their full potential (physical, mental, moral and social) and for this to happen, they should have access to adequate food and housing. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (article 11) stipulates that state parties recognise the "right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing, housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The State Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realisation of this right." Article 11 also outlines that States Parties recognise the “fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger” and States shall take measures to improve methods of food production, conservation and distribution.

​Weaponizing food during international conflict is a crime against humanity.

Armed conflict and war impact all aspects of human nutrition, from the consumption to the procurement and agriculture, resulting in malnutrition, disease and death. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC),“[i]ntentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival including willfully impeding relief supplies as provided forunder the Geneva Conventions”, is a war crime when committed in international armed conflict (Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998,).Even though the provision does not state food, food is clearly amongst that which is indispensable for human survival. Thus, cutting of food is a war crime under customary international law.

​The dignified access and cultivation of food has been weaponized in armed conflict and war throughout history, for example the Bengal famine of 1943. It is perhaps one of the most, for use of a better word, effective ways to strip, breakdown, and dehumanize a society by forcibly taking away a basic and fundamental right to survival (the right to food). ​

We stand in solidarity with the millions of Palestinian people who are suffering this “collective punishment” and we call for the Declaration of Human Rights to be rightfully enforced. 

Donations
there are a number of food and medical aid platforms you can support: 

1. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) map.org.uk 

2. One Ummah covers medication, food, blankets and clothing oneummah.org.uk

​Write to your MP

visit War on Want and show your support.

​Protest
There are many ways to protest including social media activism, whereby you are sharing information about the situation on social media, you can also join the marches in solidarity. Keep informed by visiting Friends of Al-Aqsa | Peace in Palestine - (FOA) www.foa.org.uk