13 major aid groups urge world leaders to push for ceasefire in Gaza
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Among the aid groups are Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Amnesty International, and Oxfam.
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Anti-war activists rally during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking for a ceasefire in Gaza, at Freedom Plaza in Washington on November 4, 2023 (AP)
Following a month of relentless Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, a coalition of 13 prominent humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Amnesty International, and Oxfam, asked international leaders to press for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The organizations released a statement the day before a humanitarian conference on the Gaza Strip was scheduled to take place in Paris, in which they called on "French President Emmanuel Macron and heads of state... to do everything in their power to obtain an immediate ceasefire."
Additional priorities include taking "concrete measures to free civilian hostages and protect all civilian populations, guaranteeing entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza and respecting international humanitarian law."
The International Federation for Human Rights, Action Against Hunger, and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) are among the signatories.
NRC chief Jan Egeland stated that humanitarian workers in Gaza are sending "increasingly desperate appeals for protection and aid."
"It is unacceptable that there is still no humanitarian ceasefire, no humanitarian corridor and no end to the suffocating siege" of Gaza, Egeland added.
The emergency meeting on Thursday was hurriedly organized in the shadow of the yearly Paris Peace Forum.
Under the condition of anonymity, a Macron advisor told reporters on Wednesday that they will seek to "mobilize all partners and stakeholders to respond to the needs" of Gazans.
Additionally, according to Macron's office, although "Israel" will not be present at the conference, he will personally convey the outcomes to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Guterres on civilian toll: 'Something is clearly wrong'
In a related context, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that "something is clearly wrong" in the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, given the soaring number of civilian casualties.
"But when we look at the number of civilians that were killed with the military operations, there is something that is clearly wrong," Guterres said, of course without mentioning "Israel", the perpetrator, by name.
The UN chief said there are tremendous challenges in managing United Nations operations in the field, with 92 colleagues having already lost their lives, again avoiding mentioning them being deliberately killed by "Israel".
"This is, I must tell you, very difficult," Guterres added.
Arab nations intensifying appeals to US for Gaza ceasefire: NYT
The New York Times reported that "facing growing anger from their own people, Arab countries are intensifying their appeals to the United States to pressure Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire in Gaza or risk sabotaging the security of the entire Middle East."
The newspaper mentioned that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt have appealed to US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to persuade "Israel" to end its aggression on Gaza
Blinken has declined worldwide requests for a ceasefire, arguing that doing so "would simply leave Hamas in place and able to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct. 7," in reference to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
Instead, at a press conference after the G7 Ministerial in Tokyo, Blinken increased his opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza, saying, “those calling for an immediate ceasefire have an obligation to explain how to address the unacceptable result that would likely bring.”
The report noted that "even officials in the United Arab Emirates — which led a push for Arab countries to build ties with Israel in 2020 — have condemned Israel’s conduct in the war."
On his end, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that there will be no ceasefire, entry of workers from the Gaza Strip, or the passage of fuel into the area unless captives are released.
"I underscore that there will be no import of fuel, there will be no permission for workers to enter [from the Gaza Strip] and there will be no ceasefire without the release of hostages," Netanyahu said in a televised address.
Currently, in Gaza, electricity, clean water, and fuel have all run out, and there are no medical supplies or lifesaving treatments.
The Israeli occupation has so far killed 193 medical workers, destroyed 45 ambulances, targeted 120 medical institutions, and put 18 hospitals and 40 medical centers out of service through the brutal policies it has imposed on the Palestinian people.
