6 November 2023
Today marks a shocking milestone in Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza as we learn that 10,000 Palestinians have now been killed. Over 4,000 of the dead are children, and 1.5 million people are displaced from their homes. More people have been killed in the last one month in Gaza than were recorded killed in the July 1995 Srebrenica massacre, or the January 1999 assault on Freetown, Sierra Leone.
That we have reached this point so soon should not be a surprise to anyone, given Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment of civilian homes, hospitals, refugee camps, and schools.
Meanwhile, UK ministers and politicians continue to voice their support for Israel’s assault, and shamefully refuse to back a ceasefire. Their appeals for international law to be upheld are being ignored, and civilians are paying the price of impunity with their lives.
Soon those killed by the bombs will be joined by people dying from starvation, dehydration, infectious diseases and the closure of medical services. This includes 130 newborn babies in incubators in Gaza’s hospitals whose lives are at critical risk as generators run out of fuel. Israel’s siege is making sustaining human life in Gaza impossible, and must be brought immediately to an end. Collective punishment is a war crime, and those responsible must be held accountable.
“The killing of 10,000 people in such a short period of time should shock the world’s conscience. Most of the dead are women and children. Israel’s bombardment of civilian areas in Gaza demands an immediate response from the international community, who must uphold international law. The cost of inaction is measured in lives, and we cannot allow this carnage to continue,” said Melanie Ward, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)’s CEO.
“How many more deaths will it take for this assault to be brought to an end – 50,000, 100,000? As we witness our homes, hospitals and schools turned to rubble, we are crying out for a shred of humanity from world leaders. We are terrified of what is to come if we don’t get a ceasefire soon,” said Fikr Shalltoot, MAP’s Gaza Director.
Our colleagues are running out of food and water. Gaza is running out of time. We must have a #CeasefireNOW.
Please take urgent action and email your MP now.
Photo: Palestinians try to help families under the rubble in Khan Yunis. (Credit: Mohammed Zaanoun).
