10/12/2024 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
PACE’s Social Affairs Committee has expressed its deep concern that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated still further as a result of the ongoing military operations in Gaza, and urged all parties to the hostilities, in particular Israel, to reach an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire. Pending such a ceasefire, they should ensure that attacks “do not destroy more civilian lives and civilian infrastructure” and comply with international humanitarian law and standards.
Approving a draft resolution based on a report by Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC), the committee reiterated the Assembly’s condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas and other militias against Israel on 7 October 2023, and again urged the immediate release to their families and homes of all hostages still held in captivity.
“More than a year on, the military campaign launched by Israel in Gaza in response to that attack continues, causing an unimaginable humanitarian crisis,” the committee said, adding that “women and children are without any shadow of doubt the main innocent victims of the conflict”.
“The incessant bombing and ground operations of Israel are only adding to the death toll of innocent civilians,” the parliamentarians said, adding they could not remain silent “while thousands of children continue to die and suffer life-altering injuries on a daily basis, especially in a situation where they have no means of escape and no access to even the most basic humanitarian services or assistance”. This was a blatant violation of children’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 additional protocols, they said.
The committee also said attacks must not harm humanitarian personnel or aid workers, and urged the immediate and unconditional repeal of the ban on UNRWA imposed by Israel. Israel should also allow access to the Gaza strip for local and foreign journalists.
The committee called on both Israel and Palestine, whose parliaments enjoy respectively observer status and partner for democracy status with the Assembly, to do everything in their power to end the conflict without delay and put a stop to the suffering of the people in Gaza, including that of the hostages, thus showing their full commitment to Council of Europe values.