Geneva, October 1, 2025 – As the war in Gaza enters its third year, Palestinian civilians continue to endure unlawful attacks and catastrophic suffering at the hands of Israel’s ongoing military campaign and blockade. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry and leading international and Israeli human rights and humanitarian organizations have further concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) calls on influential States and mediating countries to urgently use every tool at their disposal to stop the war against civilians in Gaza.

All red lines have been crossed in Gaza,” said Hichem Khadhraoui, CIVIC’s Executive Director. “Civilians are being targeted, and the very rules meant to protect them are being ignored and deliberately violated.

Nearly two years into the military campaign, over 66,000 Palestinians, including over 19,000 children, have been killed in Gaza. Israeli bombardment has decimated hospitals, schools, critical infrastructure, and housing, rendering Gaza all but unlivable. In July, famine was declared amid a systematic blockade of life-saving humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.

As a US-brokered deal to end the war has been presented to parties to the conflict, it is important that any agreement must go beyond a temporary pause in fighting. It must permanently end attacks on civilians, guarantee safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and ensure accountability for civilian harm – or else risk perpetuating the cycle of atrocities rather than ending them.

For over two years, the international community has failed to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, allowing atrocities to continue with impunity. All States have, now more than ever, the legal and moral obligation to use every tool at their disposal to stop further harm to civilians in Gaza,” said Khadhraoui.

CIVIC implores all States to take immediate, concrete actions to halt the ongoing attacks and protect civilians, including sanctions, arms embargoes, and diplomatic pressure.

Center for Civilians in Conflict calls for:

• An immediate and permanent ceasefire to stop further civilian deaths.
• The immediate release of all hostages.
• Full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to allow life-saving aid to reach civilians in Gaza without delay.
• A comprehensive arms embargo on Israel.
• Strict enforcement of international obligations by states, including by halting arms transfers, suspending all military cooperation that could contribute to atrocity crimes, and upholding obligations under the Genocide Convention.
• Robust accountability mechanisms, including prosecutions, where possible, under universal jurisdiction principles in national courts and support for the ongoing cases before the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court.

For additional information or media inquiries, please contact:
Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, [email protected], +1 917 889 5982 (WhatsApp)
CIVIC Communications: [email protected]

Spokespersons available for interviews in English, French, and Arabic