Women Deliver unequivocally condemns genocide, crimes against humanity in Gaza

7 October 2024 | Today marks one year since Israel began intensified military violence in Gaza that international human rights law experts have since ruled is genocide. Women Deliver joins feminists, youth advocates, and legal, humanitarian, and health experts in condemning genocide — no matter where it occurs — and calling for an immediate ceasefire and access to the full breadth of humanitarian supplies for the people of Gaza.

We do not use the word “genocide” lightly. We take direction from international experts, including the International Court of Justice’s landmark findings that Israel’s actions plausibly constitute genocide. We are also listening to the horrifying and shocking accounts from survivors. What is happening in Gaza amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity, and we firmly believe that no individual, organization, or nation that claims to believe in feminism or justice can remain silent. We also recognize international legal opinions declaring Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful, including actions that amount to racial discrimination, segregation, or apartheid.

We strongly reiterate that because we want to stand for girls and women everywhere, we must take a stand for girls and women in specific situations and crises — including Gaza. And the impacts of Israel’s violations on the lives and health of girls, women, and children have been particularly egregious. Ongoing displacements have led to the separation of families, weakening social protections for women and girls. This has exposed women and girls to increased risk of violence, including gender-based violence. Malnutrition is widespread, particularly among pregnant and breastfeeding people, leading to a rise in preterm and low birth weight infants. There is a severe shortage of menstrual health supplies, and more than 525,000 women have lost access to vital services like prenatal and postnatal care, family planning, and treatment for infections.

Gaza’s residents are caught in a cycle of violence, hunger, disease, and displacement. One recent estimate puts the number of deaths attributable to the genocide in Gaza at 186,000 or more. Using the 2022 Gaza Strip population estimate of about 2.4 million, these deaths would translate to 7.9% of the total population.

As an organization that aspires to be feminist, we commend those countries that have made feminist foreign policy commitments and other pledges that aim to advance gender equality globally. If these countries have made such commitments, then they should immediately speak out against genocide and halt their military support to Israel. We cannot reconcile that many countries — although not all — that aim to promote gender equality globally remain silent and actively look on at the horror in Gaza while continuing to supply weapons to Israel that are directly targeting girls and women.

We condemn genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza and anywhere they occur. We are outraged, shocked, and saddened that too many world leaders are standing by in silence and complicity. We call for an immediate ceasefire; immediate access to sexual and reproductive health care and the full suite of humanitarian aid; and lasting peace grounded in gender equality and human rights for the people of Palestine.