Why we're campaigning and why we need your support
Right now Israel is committing a brutal genocide of the Palestinian people of Gaza, as confirmed by the ruling on the 26th January 2024 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Israeli Government is on trial for genocide. On 21 November 2024 the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli politicians including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for genocide and crimes against humanity.
Since 8th October 2023, in a campaign of indiscriminate violence and collective punishment, Israel has turned Gaza into a wasteland, with its buildings and infrastructure completely destroyed and its people, half of whom are children, starving and traumatised, with tens of thousands already dead, and millions more displaced. The vast majority of Gaza's population have been forced to flee their homes and have been displaced several times.
The evidence that Israel is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza is plain for all to see. An analysis published by the Lancet Journal on 11th January 2025 estimated the number of deaths to be at least 64,260. The study also found 59.1% of those killed were women, children and people over the age of 65.
Over 80,000 people are seriously wounded, with many thousands more missing and buried under the rubble. Thousands of the survivors including children have been forced to have amputations and other major surgeries without anaesthetic. Over 90% of Gaza's population are now surviving on less than 1 meal a day.
Israeli bombing and artillery has damaged or destroyed over 90% of the houses in Gaza, with Israel bombing all 36 of Gaza's hospitals, as well as more than 300 schools. Israeli soldiers have been recorded on video summarily executing civilians, posing with the corpses of their victims, and using bulldozers to dump bodies into mass graves. Israeli forces have been documented by ICC prosecutors systematically targeting and bulldozing mosques, churches, cemeteries, museums, and other cultural sites.
By blockading Gaza's borders and preventing food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies from entering, Israel is using starvation and deprivation of civilians as a method of warfare. The Israeli government has been open about the fact that it is using aid supplies to civilians as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Hamas.
At the same time, the West Bank has been subjected to increased attacks, arrests and house demolitions at the hands of the Israeli army and settlers. According to UNWRA, as of 11th February 2025, at least 40.000 people in the West Bank have been displaced and scores killed and injured.
Several million people are now surviving in unsanitary tent cities where contagious diseases such as meningitis, jaundice, impetigo, chickenpox, diarrhoea and influenza are rife. Maternity care for women giving birth in Gaza is non-existent, with tens of thousands of newborn babies malnourished. In addition to official casualty figures thousands of preventable deaths are occurring in Gaza due to the destruction of the healthcare system, with people reliant on chemotherapy, kidney dialysis and other routine treatments no longer receiving care, due to Israel's wholesale destruction of hospitals and other medical infrastructure.
The UK government has failed to do anything to prevent this genocide and continues to sell arms to Israel. Both government and the main opposition party have condoned and excused Israel’s war crimes as acts of ‘self-defence’, despite Israel’s conspicuous failure to comply with international humanitarian law, neglecting to exercise restraint and refusing to show any regard for civilian life.
Time has run out for the people of Gaza. Either the world will intervene immediately to stop the atrocities being committed against them, or we will watch the worst crime against humanity since the Rwandan Genocide 30 years ago unfold and do nothing. Anyone who believes in universal human values must do everything in their power to prevent this, including through protest and direct action, until our government and the international community intervenes to stop Israel's genocide against Palestinians.