Over 100 people’s organizations from 26 countries, including national-democratic groups in the Philippines, reiterated their call to immediately end the Zionist Israeli regime’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people.
“We come together in outrage against the continuing genocidal famine in Gaza, orchestrated by the Israeli regime and supported by its imperialist allies led by the US,” the groups said in their statement released on October 16, World Food Day.
The unity statement was spearheaded by the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), PAN Asia Pacific, Palestinian Farmers Union, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, Asian Peasant Coalition, Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association, Food Sovereignty Alliance-India, and Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek.
Scientists and experts believe that the cumulative death toll of Palestinians has reached 680,000, which include 380,000 infants and children aged five and below. Around 65,000 of them were directly killed by Israeli soldiers’ bombs and bullets.
International agencies have recorded famine inflicted deaths at 400, including 140 children. Meanwhile, 3,000 have been killed while queuing for or competing over aid and food, many in the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation “death traps” operated by American and Israeli soldiers.
According to the statement, the continued arming and support given to Israel by US led imperialist countries serve as a greenlight to this genocide.
“US and Western imperialism has proven itself a direct accomplice to Israeli war crimes,” the statement said. US bombs destroy food supply facilities and warehouses, while American politicians actively help enforce the food blockade at Gaza’s borders.
“We strongly condemn the Netanyahu regime’s genocidal campaign and US and Western imperialist policies that fuel and sustain it,” the groups declared. “Each famine-related death is a murder, and each veto at the UN Security Council is an endorsement of that crime,” they said.
A US-brokered ceasefire took effect in Gaza on October 13. Contrary to what US President Donald Trump boasted as a “diplomatic gift,” supporters of Palestine view Israel’s participation in the agreement as the result of the Palestinian people’s unwavering resolve not to surrender their land.
“The Palestinian people’s right to resist does not stop with a ceasefire,” ILPS said. In fact, it serves as a reminder that only the people’s courageous struggle can achieve justice. “While a momentary ceasefire is something to celebrate, justice for the Palestinian people is far from achieved.”
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City, which it had sought to fully occupy through relentless bombings of the remaining residential buildings. Even during the ceasefire negotiations on October 13, Israeli strikes killed 44 people and wounded 100 others.
Hamas has fulfilled its part in providing the first phase of the ceasefire by releasing all 20 remaining alive hostages. It has also begun transferring custody of the 23 remains of hostages killed by Israel’s unceasing attacks. Around 200,000 residents are returning to Gaza City on foot to gradually rebuild their shattered lives.
In exchange, Israel released 2,000 political prisoners, most of them minors. It has also “reduced” the number of attacks, which previously caused the deaths of an average of 100 Palestinians per day.
In January, both sides also entered into a ceasefire, but Israel continuously violated it until it unilaterally ended it in March.
