Gaza: Starvation or Gunfire – This is Not a Humanitarian Response
After 471 days of relentless violence, devastation and investigations around the claims of genocide1 in Gaza, ACT Alliance welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire agreement. We also express our satisfaction with the agreement to release the detainees and hostages that have been held captive by both parties. We thank all those who supported the demand for a ceasefire and the respect of humanitarian principles and human rights for all civilians. This emerging agreement marks a critical first step towards an end to the war, the loss of lives and the widespread suffering.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the countless families who have lost loved ones and to those who have been displaced or injured. The toll of this prolonged conflict has been profound, affecting every aspect of life, including access to essential services, education, and basic human dignity. This moment of respite must be a time for reflection, solidarity, and urgent action. We underscore the need for a long term and sustained ceasefire that ensures peace, security and justice in the region.
ACT Alliance urges the international community to maintain pressure on all parties to respect the agreement and not to violate it to keep hope for a better future alive. All parties should abide by the agreement after completion of the first phase. All possible efforts must be made to keep the borders open for humanitarian assistance and peoples’ movement from and to Gaza. We reiterate our position that violence and aggression cannot build peace; the only path to peace and security is through justice that upholds the Palestinian people’s rights, especially their right to self-determination. This is a call to not only support the immediate cessation of violence but also to address the profound injustices and root causes of this conflict. The world must ensure that the people of Gaza are not once again abandoned in their time of greatest need but are instead met with compassion, solidarity, and the means to rebuild their lives.
The future is vague and unclear. The scale of destruction is staggering, Homes, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure have been obliterated, leaving survivors to navigate a landscape of grief and ruin. As families begin to return to what remains of their homes, they are confronted with the harrowing reality of loss—the absence of their loved ones, the trauma of violence, and the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes. This moment of respite must be a time for reflection, solidarity, and urgent action. As faith-based organizations, we maintain hope and faith in this process, and we will work alongside the Palestinian people to restore and rebuild.
We call on all governments and donors to direct funds reflecting the extent of the destruction, to help the reconstruction of Gaza and support its people to build a future of hope.
Today, as the smoke begins to settle, the air is heavy with cautious relief and extreme grief. This is not the end—it is the beginning. The time has come to rise, to rebuild, and to save what remains of Gaza. The tears of the grieving oblige us to act, now more than ever. This ceasefire brings much-needed relief to the people of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable hardship and destruction during this war.
ACT Palestine Forum (APF) welcomes the historic resolution in the UN General Assembly’s emergency session on the 18th of September 2024, demanding Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory… and do so no later than 12 months,” and “comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law.” This resolution affirms the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) Advisory opinion as requested under resolution A/RES/77/247 that was issued on 30th of December 2022.1
The resolution, passed with a majority of 124 votes, 43 abstentions, and 14 votes against it2, reflects the international community’s commitment to peace and human rights for the Palestinian people. We view this decision as a crucial step towards ending the decades-long injustice endured by Palestinians. The resolution is also a powerful call for Israel to end its illegal occupation, halt all new settlements constructions, remove parts of the wall it has built and evacuate all settlers from the occupied State of Palestine, including those in Jerusalem.
We believe that this resolution has the potential to strengthen the efforts towards achieving a just and lasting solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict and it emphasizes the necessity of adherence to international law and human rights standards. We call upon the international community to take concrete actions to ensure the implementation of the resolution to ensure the protection of human rights.
We urge all concerned parties to commit seriously to a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict. We call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an end of all forms of violence against Palestinians by settlers and the Israeli army in the West Bank.
APF also urges all members of the ACT Alliance and the churches, particularly those active in the countries that voted against the resolution, to continue advocating with politicians and decision-makers to support the right of Palestinians to self-determination. Their support is essential to building a future of peace and justice for all peoples in the region, the Holy Land, and the world.
At APF, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the Palestinian people in their pursuit of their legitimate rights and we commit to providing humanitarian assistance and aid to all those affected by this conflict to be able to live in freedom, dignity and justice.
We call upon all people around the world to stand by this resolution and support it by all possible means. We also underscore how the Security Council resolutions and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice constitute additional legal and moral frameworks that must be upheld. This is essential for ensuring the realization of Palestinian rights and the end of the occupation, and upholding a global commitment to an international order based on the rule of law and international law.
The leadership of ACT Alliance, the World Council of Churches and Caritas Internationalis had planned a solidarity visit to Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza from 5-9 of August to witness the humanitarian, psychological and social impact of the ongoing war. However, recent events in the region have forced the organisations to postpone their travels.
The visit aimed to document the impact of the hostilities on civilians, express solidarity to the churches and organisations that are working to bring solace to the men, women and children that face the consequences of the conflict and, advocate for unhindered humanitarian access and a full ceasefire.
Despite the inability to hold in-person meetings, the leadership of ACT Alliance, the WCC and Caritas Internationalis will hold a two-day digital meeting on August 7-8 with key actors, churches and families to express their support to the populations facing hardships and deliver a strong message of peace.
Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of ACT Alliance, expressed regret at not being able to travel to the Holy Land and called on all ACT members to continue their advocacy for a ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and respect of international humanitarian law.
“Postponing our solidarity visit due to ongoing violence doesn’t diminish our resolve. Gaza’s urgent need for peace and humanitarian support remains a top priority. Let’s unite for justice and access to aid for those suffering,”de Faria said.
Read ACT Alliance Palestine Forum’s statement on the situation in Gaza
