We, the undersigned international NGOs working in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), are extremely alarmed by the level of violence in Gaza and its effect on humanitarian conditions.

The recent internecine fighting in Gaza between the rival Palestinian factions has caused suffering for the most vulnerable people in society, namely children, women and the elderly.

The work of international NGOs is being further hindered by this internal fighting.

The undersigned international NGOs call for:

• All parties to agree and abide by a ceasefire and respect International Humanitarian Law and dignify each other’s human rights by refraining from attacking civilians, humanitarian institutions and carrying out extra-judicial killings.

• An easing and facilitation of access into Gaza by the Israeli authorities - something humanitarian relief and development requires. It equally requires a safe environment in which to operate.

• The respect by all sides party to the conflict for the inviolability of localities such as hospitals, schools, food distribution sites and other civilian institutions.

• An end to the debilitating international restrictions on the Palestinian Authority so that it can reestablish itself as the primary service provider to the Palestinian people. This will also ease the tensions within Palestinian society.

• An urgent international intervention in order to help the two Palestinian factions reach a ceasefire and to help return both the Israeli and Palestinian sides towards a comprehensive peace process.

Signed by the following AIDA member organizations:

Action Against Hunger-Spain/Action Contre La Faim-Espagne (ACF-E)
Campaign for the Children of Palestine
Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI)
Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS)
Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli- C.I.S.P
GVC
EMDH
Handicap International
Islamic Relief
Italian Consortium of Solidarity (ICS)
Japan International Volunteer Center
Kvinna till Kvinna (Woman to Woman)
Mercy Corps
Movimondo
Save the Children Sweden
Save The Children UK
Solidarite Socialiste Belgium
Quaker Service- Jerusalem
The Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR)
The Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC)
Terre de Hommes-Italy
VIS - Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo, Italy
World Vision Jerusalem