October 7, 2024
A year ago today, the world witnessed the horrific terror attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7 which killed more than 1200 people and resulted in more than 200 being taken hostage. We’re deeply saddened by the pain of those whose loved ones were killed or remain hostage. We are also coming up on one year since the Israeli government began its disproportionate retaliation in what is now an ongoing genocide in Gaza. Humanity United mourns the violence and loss of life, and continues to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as well as release of all hostages held by Hamas and its affiliates.
Over the last year in Gaza, close to 42,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 96,000 injured, and 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes. This growing violence has also contributed to a worsening humanitarian situation with 96 percent of the population facing acute levels of food insecurity. As we bear witness to the indiscriminate killing of civilians, systematic destruction of infrastructure, and the intentional creation of uninhabitable conditions, we must acknowledge unequivocally that we are witnessing a genocide. The international community has to marshal the courage to act; it is our collective responsibility.
Beyond Gaza, the Israeli government has dangerously escalated the conflict to nearby regions. We’ve seen deadly raids in the West Bank as well as increasing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, resulting in Lebanon’s deadliest day in more than 30 years. With the start of Israel’s ground offensive over the last week, Lebanon’s death toll has surpassed 1,300 and around 1.2 million people have already been displaced.
Humanity United fears the ramifications that this increasing violence continues to have on many of the issues we work on and the communities we support. We know that the effects of this violence will be felt for generations to come. Our journalism partners, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), have shared the dire conditions their counterparts in Gaza have been working under and they’ve sounded the alarm on Israel’s deliberate targeting of journalists. Since October 7th, 2023, 139 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza. Rights groups have also highlighted the unique challenges faced by migrant workers in the region, expressing their concern that the violence and displacement those in Lebanon are facing will result in further marginalization and exclusion of migrant workers. The ongoing violence in Gaza has caused a cataclysmic shift in the region, setting a dangerous precedent for the abandonment of international conventions and showing a blatant disregard for international law. From a peacebuilding perspective, it is increasingly difficult for activists on either side to call for peace, while nonviolent solutions for “the day after” appear to be fading.
For its part, the United States government continues to provide unwavering ideological and financial support to the Israeli government while it recklessly kills and harms civilians. We call on the United States government to stand behind it’s call for a ceasefire by ending its unconditional supply of weapons to Israel and more forcefully holding the Israeli government accountable for its role in perpetuating genocide and the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. The U.S., along with the rest of the international community, must also continue to push Hamas and the Israeli government to agree to the release of all hostages as well as implement an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Finally, we urge all governments to support diplomatic and civil society efforts to build sustainable peace following the ceasefire, including helping strengthen Palestinian governance and reducing the power of Hamas to carry out violent attacks. We continue to believe an emphasis on safety, accountability, and the rule of law is necessary to achieve lasting peace for the people of Israel, Palestine, and the wider region.