CIP Calls for Truce in Israel-Hamas Fighting to Allow for Humanitarian Relief

The Center for International Policy is appalled at the terrible loss of more than 2,000 lives among Palestinian civilians in Gaza– including more than 700 children– who have suffered several days of massive Israeli bombardment and a total cut-off of essential supplies, on top of decades of repressive occupation and blockade. We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s October 7 attack on Israel and the multiple gross violations of human rights they perpetrated against Israeli civilians, including murdering more than 1,200 people and taking approximately 150 hostages who are still being held prisoner. We again call for their immediate and unconditional release.

We firmly believe that the combatants in the current war must adhere to the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law. The targeting of civilians and the failure to take all reasonable care in avoiding harm to civilians both violate that critical standard. We call on the entire international community to do their utmost to hold the combatants to their obligations under international law. We also reject and condemn comments by officials or supporters of either party who encourage or seek to justify in any way the crime against humanity of ethnic cleansing.

We strongly urge the Biden administration and US partners to seek, at a minimum, a temporary cessation in fighting to allow for the delivery of direly needed food, water, medical supplies and other critical aid immediately necessary to the preservation of life. Civilians deciding to seek refuge outside the Gaza Strip should also be given safe passage to do so– with an unconditional guarantee of their right to return when they so choose. We also urge the international community to continue to work to prevent the spread or escalation of the conflict beyond the current theater, and to work toward a durable end to the fighting.

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