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

UNIFIED CALL TO CONFRONT FAMINE IN GAZA: LAUNCH THE DIPLOMATIC HUMANITARIAN CONVOY NOW 

12th May 2025

Palestinian civil society, joined by humanitarian and human rights organisations worldwide, issues 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.

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 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.

3. 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

Signatories:

1. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man
2. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
3. Palestine Independent Commission for Human Rights
4. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)
5. Law for Palestine (UK)
6. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)
7. The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD)
8. The Palestinian Centre for the Independence of Judiciary and legal profession - Musawa
9. Filastiniyat
10. GENERAL UNION OF CULTURAL CENTERS
11. Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation
12. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy - MIFTAH
13. The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling
14. The International Commission for Supporting the Rights of the Palestinian People “Hashd”
15. PWWSD Women Rights
16. Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
17. Women’s Affairs Technical Committee -WATC
18. AMAN Coalition
19. Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Almarsad)
20. The Civil Commission for the independence of Judiciary and Rule of Law (ISTIQLAL)
21. The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”
22. Sharek Youth Forum
23. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) - Paris, France
24. GLAN | Global Legal Action Network - Ireland
25. Doctors Against Genocide - USA
26. Health Work Committees
27. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) - New York
28. Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)
29. Defence for children International
30. Bisan Center for Research and Development
31. Al-Haq Europe
32. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
33. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD
34. Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)
35. The March 30 Movement - Brussels
36. The Hind Rajab Foundation
37. Olive Kids - The Australian Foundation for Palestinian Children
38. British Palestinian Committee
39. Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE) - Italy
40. Defence for Children International Italia
41. Scottish Anti-Racism Education
42. Demokratischen Komitees Palästina - Germany
43. Défense des enfants International Belgique
44. People Before Profit Derry
45. Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS)
46. Neighbours NPO
47. Anthropologists for Palestine, Italy
48. Movement for Debt and Reparations - South Africa
49. Abortion Rights Campaign Donegal
50. Abogados Chilenos por Palestina - Chile
51. Transnational Institute - Netherlands
52. Liberating Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa
53. Save Our Sacred Lands
54. United for Palestine - South Africa
55. Islamic Forum - South Africa
56. Methodist Church of Southern Africa
57. We Will Speak Out South Africa (WWSOSA)
58. Boycott Israeli Hardware Group - South Africa
59. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
60. Plataforma Pro-tram Sant Joan Mutxamel
61. Avocats pour la Justice au Proche-Orient AJPO - France
62. Enfield Community Action Group
63. Progressive Democrats of America - Arizona
64. Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine
65. Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)
66. The internatipnal committee for Breaking the siege of Gaza
67. Group of 62O chilean lawyers - Chile
68. Europal Forum
69. Habaq for Human rights training and development
70. Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association
71. Edinburgh University Student Staff Assembly
72. Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition
73. Progressive Democrats of America
74. Justice center for legal aid - Jordan
75. Milford and District Resource Centre
76. U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
77. Ealing Friends Of Palestine
78. Architects for Gaza - Uk
79. Tamkeen for legal aid and human rights
80. Jewish Network for Palestine - United Kingdom
81. World Peace Now ॐ - Australia
82. Comunità Palestinese in Campania - Napoli
83. Aksa Kadınları Derneği Ağrı - Türkiye
84. Kudüs ve Hukuk Platformu - Türkiye
85. Queer Folk®, Inc. - United States
86. Cihannüma derneği - Türkiye
87. Asociación Americana de Juristas - Panamá
88. Seed of Love Hawai'i - Hawaii
89. Human Rights Department - PLO
90. Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand)
91. British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association
92. Friends of Sabeel North America, Claremont Chapter - USA
93. National Lawyers Guild International - United States
94. Health Care Workers for Palestine - Maine
95. Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights Maine, USA
96. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
97. Palestine Pulse (UK)
98. MAA International - Australia
99. International Tribunal of Conscience of Peoples in Movement    
100. World Beyond War Australia
101. Legal Action for Peace - United Kingdom
102. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation - Turkiye
103. Passionists International - United States
104. Digital Memory Association - Turkiye
105. International Association of Democratic Lawyers    - Philippines
106. Community Action Center- Al-Quds University - Jersalem
107. Khulumani Support Group    - South Africa
108. Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaiâ
109. Hawaii Peace and Justice
110. U.S. Boats to Gaza - United States
111. Rasheed Transparency International - Jordan
112. East Clare for Palestine
113. Phenix Center for Economics & Informatics Studies - Jordan
114. Veterans for Peace-Hawai'i
115. Makan Rights - UK
116. United Against Racism Mayo - Ireland
117. Newham Palestine Solidarity Network - London
118. Balbriggan Palestine Solidarity Grouo
119. Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development - Jordan
120. We Belong Africa - South Africa
121. Muslim Public Affairs Forum Committee - UK
122. Community Action Redbridge
123. Redbridge Palestine Solicarity Campaign
124. Sari for Change - South Africa
125. Widows for Peace through Democracy -    UK
126. The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB)
127. South African Municipal Workers' Union    - South Africa
128. Jewish Voice for Labour - UK
129. Jewish Peaceniks UK
130. Peace Appeal Foundation
131. Gorey Youth Needs Group    Gorey - Ireland
132. Seanad Civil Engagement Group - Ireland
133. Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK
134. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary NGO
135. Foundation for Human Rights - South Africa
136. International Commission of Jurists, Norwegian section (ICJ Norway)    
137. Centre for Human Rights Research and Advocacy (CENTHRA), Malaysia
138. MA'AN Development Center, Palestine
139. International Association of Democratic Lawyers  - Brussels
140. MontCo for Palestine, Lansdale
141. Congregation of the Mission - Italy
142. Center for Refugee Rights - AIDOUN, Lebanon
143. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town
144. The Majed Abu Sharar Media Foundation (MASMF), Lebanon
145. Good Energies Alliance Ireland
146. Colchester Action for Palestine
147. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
148. Gaza Action Ireland
149. Mision Ezequiel Lugo Morales inc.    
150. Frente de Capoeira pro Palestina, Ecuador
151. Palestine-Global Mental Health Network, Palestine
152. Red de Solidaridad Popular de Jinámar, Spain
153. Salt River Heritage Society, South Africa
154. Cloncannon Biofarm, Ireland
155. End water poverty, UK
156. Street Medicine Ireland
157. Palestinian Union of the Deaf
158. Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua, Central Amarica
159. South African Jews for a Free Palestine
160. Belgian Academics and Artists for Palestine
161. Socialist Lawyers Association of Ireland
162. Comhlamh Justice for Palestine - Ireland
163. Comision Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos CEDHU - Ecuador
164. Congregations of St Joseph - NGO - USA
165. Jews for Justice for Palestinians, UK
166. South African Jews for a Free Palestine
167. Campaign Against Arms Trade, United Kingdom
168. Defence For Children - International Canada
169. Nenagh Friends of Palestine, Ireland
170. BDS Clare, Ireland
171. Arab Lawyer Union, Egypt
172. Psychoanalytic Voices for Palestine, UK
173. Housing and Land Rights Network - Habitat International Coalition    Red Universitaria por Palestina, Spain
174. Civil Engagement Group, Ireland
175. A & A Rainbow Hearts Around The World, Poland
176. Center for Constitutional Rights, New York
177. VIVAT International, New York
178. Scarborough Southwest for Palestine, Canada
179. Women Working Group (WWG), Indonesia
180. Forum of Computer Scientists for Peace and Social Responsibility, Germany
181. Derry Branch of Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
182. Christian Aid, UK
183. Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Germany
184. SeRVE Indonesia, Indonesia
185. National Union of Peoples Lawyers,    Philippines
186. Global Jews for Palestine
187. Australian & Aotearoa New Zealand Doctors for Palestine
188. Labor for Palestine, United States
189. No Detention Centers in Michigan, USA
190. Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
191. Hunter Asylum Seeker Advocacy, Australia
192. Pax Christi International, Brussels
193. Sh'ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ), New Zealand
194. Frontline Film Foundation, Australia
195. Young Christian Students Movement, South Africa
196. Christian Action Movement, Johannesburg
197. Palestinian Bar Association    
198. The Jordanian Federation of the Independent Trade Unions
199. No Azure for Apartheid
200. Al Amal Association for the Deaf, Palestine
201. The Rights Forum, The Netherlands
202. Extinction Rebellion Gauteng, South Africa
203. Clare Solidarity Network, Ireland
204. KZN monitor, Durban
205. Xarxa UAB per Palestina
206. Anglican church of Southern Africa
207. Un Ponte Per, Italy
208. Child Rights International Network (CRIN), United Kingdom
209. KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, South Africa
210. South Africa Palestine Movement
211. Save Our Local Hospitals, London
212. Scottish Universities Jewish Staff Network, Scotland
213. The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia
214. The Palestine Committee in Norway, Norway
215. The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine, Norway
216. Road to 50% APS, Italy
217. Unión de Comités Autónomos de Agua del Oriente del Estado de México
218. Centro de Documentación en Derechos Humanos "Segundo Montes Mozo SJ" (CSMM), Ecuador
219. Défense des enfants international, France
220. Asociación Americana de Juristas
221. Red Centroamericana de Acción del Agua - Nica
222. Jews Against the Occupation ‘48, Australia
223. Acción Palestina Chiapas, Mexico
224. An Claíomh Glas, Ireland
225. Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice, The Netherlands
226. Social Workers for a Free Palestine, UK
227. Global Coalition Against the Occupation in Palestine
228. Action Reflection Community (ARC), South Africa
229. Vivencias, Manaus Amazone Brazil
230. Hackney Palestine Solidarity, London
231. Justice for Palestine Magan-djin (Brisbane), Australia
232. MENA Rights Group (MRG), Switzerland
233. Earth Thrive, UK
234. Menningar og friðarsamtökin MFÍK, Iceland
235. Friends of the Earth Ireland, Ireland
236. European Water Movement, Belgium
237. Medical Rights Advocacy Network (MeRAN)
238. Pakistan Council on Family Relations, Pakistan
239. Environmental Law Ireland at An Taisce
240. Quaker Service Norway, Norway
241. Norwegian People's Aid, Norway
242. The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), The Netherlands
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