Truth and Justice in Gaza

Human Rights Council
Fifty-seventh session
9 September–9 October 2024
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Written statement submitted by Initiatives of Change International, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status

The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

[19 August 2024]

Initiatives of Change International, in accordance with its Consultative Status, hereby submits this Urgent Statement on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

The protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict has continued for too long, causing excessive suffering. This has resulted in the intolerable loss of countless lives since 1948 until the present day.

In recognition of the following: -the equal sanctity of the lives of all civilians on all sides of conflict; -the inadmissibility of the threat or the use of force or violence as a means for achieving security or any political aims; -the continued supply of arms and munitions of war perpetuates the continued mass killing of innocent civilians; -the gross catastrophic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT), especially the Gaza Strip, without detracting from the ever-increasing severity of the situation in other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, notably the expanding dispossession of Palestinian communities and expropriation of their land; Initiatives of Change International calls for the following to be acted upon with the utmost urgency, in descending order:

1. The implementation of an immediate permanent (not temporary) ceasefire using all means necessary through a UN Security Council resolution issued under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter. This is an essential prerequisite to achieving the release of hostages and prisoners from both sides, complementing and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2735 and leading in turn to a sustainable process of peace based on justice.
2. The full rehabilitation of all access points to the Gaza Strip, including the Gaza Port and the Rafah border crossing and unrestricted land access for the response to the humanitarian relief needs of all residents of the affected areas.
3. Protection from harm for all humanitarian international aid workers, journalists and media workers, water well operators and civilian objects, including hospitals, bakeries, places of worship, and all other provision of services essential for daily life, well-being and survival in Gaza.
4. Providing the means necessary for dignified daily living conditions for all residents of the affected areas, without restriction nor additional delays.
5. The implementation of rulings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
6. Taking into account the legitimate needs, responsibilities and rights of all inhabitants of Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, in accordance with international law, including UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. All inhabitants should be equal in their access to economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.

We expect IofC international to give credit to those who carry out its morality-based message worldwide. We salute the conscientious efforts and voices, especially Jewish peace activists, voices and student movements in the United States of America and Europe calling for justice and peace.

A sustainable future vision necessitates that Palestinians and Israelis live in sovereign states side-by-side, with equal measures of security, freedom, opportunity, respect, dignity and right to self-determination.

Consideration of any future form of confederation or union would have more legitimacy if it resulted from the decision of these two sovereign states with the support of their populations.

Download the full statement in PDF here