HRN gave an oral statement on 20 March 2025 at the Human Rights Council in Geneva condemning the Israeli government’s violation of the Gaza ceasefire and raising four issues of deep concern that it must confront in order to ensure a lasting and just peace based on international law. A transcript of the statement is below the video.
Transcript: Oral Statement on Gaza
Human Rights Now condemns the Israeli government’s flagrant violation of the ceasefire in Gaza which has already killed more than 400 Palestinians, and we call on it to immediately end all hostilities and return to the ceasefire. We further highlight four issues of deep concern that must be addressed.
First is the fragility of any future peace agreement, demonstrated by Israel’s violation of the Gaza ceasefire and its attacks in the West Bank, which must be immediately ended and an agreement made ensuring lasting peace based on international law.
Second is the humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s destruction is staggering, with almost 2 million Palestinians displaced and civilian housing and infrastructure in ruins. The physical, economic, and social reconstruction of Gaza is required, and Israel has a duty to provide reparations for its wrongful acts. Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza and its ban on UNRWA’s Gaza activities must also be immediately ended.
Third is Israel’s continuing illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and apartheid practices, which must end consistent with the ICJ’s relevant advisory opinion.
Finally, Israel’s government must immediately end ongoing violations in Gaza and it and the international community must ensure criminal accountability, including respecting the ICC arrest warrants, given substantial evidence of genocide, forced mass displacement, and targeting of civilians.
We call on the Israeli government to immediately end its violence against Palestinians and address these four concerns and on states to take appropriate measures pressuring them to do so.
Thank you.