La Via Campesina’s petition on Palestine : More than 4300 signatories demand immediate action!
More than 185 organisations and more than 4100 individuals from around the world have signed the petition launched by La Via Campesina on 21 October 2023 regarding the relentless attack on the Palestinian people. The full list of signatories as of 12 January 2024 is included at the end of this article.
Below is the full statement of demands from La Via Campesina. If you agree with these demands, we urge you to send an email to the UN Secretary General António Guterres, reiterating these demands: CLICK TO EMAIL THE SECRETARY GENERAL NOW.
Given the principles of international human rights law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Geneva Conventions, we, La Via Campesina (LVC), a global peasant movement, voice our profound concern regarding the genocide war being committed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza.
Since October 7th, Israel has been waging a genocide war against the Palestinian people. This relentless aggression has tragically claimed the lives of more than 23,000 Palestinian civilians and left over 57,000 injured, with a staggering 70% of the casualties being women and children (data last updated on 12 January 2024). This assault has caused extensive destruction, obliterating, or damaging around 359,000 residential units and numerous public and private structures.
As a result, millions of Palestinians have been internally displaced within the Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, the Israeli occupation has imposed an unparalleled blockade on the Gaza Strip, inhabited by 2.5 million Palestinians. This embargo includes prohibiting the entry of food, cutting off water and electricity supplies, and restricting movement throughout the region.
Considering the aforementioned, we, the undersigned, call for the following immediate actions:
- Unconditional Cessation of Hostilities: An immediate and unconditional cessation of ongoing hostilities and acts of violence against civilians.
- Safe Passage and Border Openings: The establishment of safe corridors and the opening of all border crossings to facilitate the swift entry of medical aid, and food, and to expediently transport the injured for urgent medical care.
- Accountability for War Crimes: Prosecution of those responsible for war crimes before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in line with its mandate and international law.
- Formation of International Investigative Committees: Establishment of international committees to investigate and report on the unprecedented crimes committed during this conflict. In advocating for these actions, we stand in solidarity with all civilians caught in the crossfire and seek justice, peace, and the upholding of fundamental human rights.
SEE THE LATEST LIST OF SIGNATORIES
[1] Number since grown to over 23,000 fatalities with 67% of the victims being women and children: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker
This article has been updated on 12 January 2024.