Israel's attacks against the Palestinian civilian population, which began on 7 October 2023, violate international and humanitarian law norms and constitute war crimes, continue. As a result of Israel's attacks targeting civilians, thousands of people, especially women, elderly and children, have lost their lives, tens of thousands of people have been injured and more than one million people have been displaced. During this period, people in Gaza were denied access to their most basic needs, hospitals, places of worship and civilian settlements were bombed, and fundamental rights and freedoms and the most basic principles of humanitarian law were violated. Israel's bombardment and total blockade have deepened the long-standing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 80% of the population is in need of humanitarian aid, and turned it into a full-blown atrocity. The people of Gaza have been subjected to an unjust and all-encompassing 'punitiveness' due to Israel's closure of entrances and exits to and from Gaza, restrictions on the supply of humanitarian needs such as food and medicine, and restrictions on freedom of travel. Today, in front of the eyes of the whole world, Palestinians face the danger of mass ethnic cleansing.

All actors of the international community, particularly the United Nations, the European Union, international organizations and national human rights institutions, have a historic responsibility to take a more proactive role to end this state of war, taking into account the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Palestinian civilian population. In particular, a humanitarian corridor should be opened in the region, taking into account the principles of human rights law and humanitarian law, and access to the most basic needs of the people such as clean water, food, energy resources, medicine and health services should be provided urgently. In this context, it is essential for the international community to invite the parties to reconciliation and ceasefire in order to resolve the conflict fairly, diplomatically and urgently, and to take action for a peaceful solution.

As the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye, we once again condemn the systematic attacks against the civilian population in Gaza, which constitute war crimes, and we invite all humanity and all actors of the international community to show sensitivity in the face of this atrocity and to take an active role in ending the human rights violations in Gaza.

Respectfully announced to the public.