The International Congress Shield continues to monitor the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, where civilian suffering is escalating at an unprecedented level as a result of the ongoing military campaign conducted by the Israeli army and the enormous human losses and widespread destruction it has inflicted on infrastructure and vital facilities.
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has become one of the most painful humanitarian catastrophes of modern times. Hundreds of thousands of families continue to live under harsh conditions in temporary tents or among the ruins of destroyed homes, facing severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and essential services, while access to healthcare, education, and sources of income continues to decline.
According to available international data, the number of victims in the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,956 fatalities and 173,043 injured persons since the beginning of the Israeli offensive in October 2023. Among the fatalities are 20,593 children and approximately 16,400 women, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons who remain trapped under the rubble or whose fate remains unknown, making this one of the largest humanitarian disasters of the modern era.
The losses have not been limited to civilians alone. Large numbers of journalists, paramedics, humanitarian and relief workers, ambulance crews, and civil defense personnel have also lost their lives while carrying out their professional and humanitarian duties in serving civilians and saving lives. This represents a grave violation of humanitarian principles and international laws that guarantee the protection of medical, humanitarian, and media personnel during armed conflicts.
These tragic figures reflect the unprecedented scale of human suffering endured by the people of Gaza amid the continuation of military operations and the severe deterioration of living and humanitarian conditions. The situation requires urgent and effective international action to protect civilians, stop the ongoing loss of life, and bring an end to this escalating humanitarian catastrophe.
The continuation of military operations has displaced nearly two million Palestinians within the Gaza Strip, while approximately 100,000 residents have been forced to leave the territory, resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and a widespread collapse of living conditions.
In the West Bank, ongoing attacks have resulted in the deaths of 1,102 Palestinians and injuries to 9,034 others, while Palestinian society continues to face growing economic and social challenges caused by persistent violence and instability.
Population estimates indicate that the population of the Gaza Strip has declined by approximately 254,000 people, representing a decrease of 10.6% compared to pre-war levels, reflecting the magnitude of human losses and forced displacement suffered by the population.
In Lebanon, the Israeli military offensive has caused severe human losses, with 4,047 fatalities and 16,638 injured persons. Among the victims were 316 children killed and 1,456 children injured, in addition to 790 women killed and 2,567 women injured.
The Lebanese healthcare sector has also been subjected to repeated direct attacks. A total of 67 attacks on hospitals and 238 attacks on emergency and ambulance organizations have been documented. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 222 healthcare workers and injuries to 330 others, while numerous hospitals, healthcare centers, ambulances, and civil defense vehicles were destroyed or forced out of service.
The suffering of civilians in Lebanon has intensified due to the growing displacement crisis. More than 100,000 displaced persons are crowded into shelters that lack even the most basic services, while children face increasing risks due to interrupted education and inadequate social and psychological support.
The International Congress Shield affirms that the targeting of civilians, civilian infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and humanitarian organizations constitutes a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions and threatens the lives of millions of innocent people throughout the region.
The organization strongly condemns the international silence and ongoing inaction in the face of this worsening humanitarian catastrophe, which has exceeded the capacity of humanitarian and relief organizations to respond effectively to growing needs.
The International Congress Shield calls upon the international community, the United Nations, the European Union, and global human rights and humanitarian organizations to:
- Take immediate action to secure a ceasefire and end military operations.
- Open safe and sustainable humanitarian corridors to ensure the unrestricted delivery of aid.
- Provide international protection for civilians and humanitarian and medical facilities.
- Support relief efforts, reconstruction initiatives, and urgent humanitarian response programs.
- Ensure legal accountability for serious violations committed against civilians.
- Protect children, women, and other vulnerable groups from the consequences of armed conflict.
The continuation of this humanitarian tragedy without serious international intervention will have severe consequences for regional and international peace and stability and will further deepen the suffering of millions of innocent people.
Issued by
Media and International Relations Department
International Congress Shield
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