Since October 7 and the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas, some 33,000 Palestinians have been killed and 75,000 injured in the incessant bombardments of Gaza by Israeli forces. This deadly offensive follows a massive attack launched by Hamas against Israel, during which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 240 Israelis and foreign nationals taken hostage.
A campaign to end the transfer of arms
Faced with the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the Ceasefire Now coalition, in collaboration with numerous NGOs including HI, is organizing a Global Day of Action on May 2.
This event consists of a series of messages and visuals to be broadcast on social networks, calling on States to stop arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups and highlighting the devastating impact of their use on the civilian population.
A gathering around a giant fake weapon with a knotted barrel, with a photo, will also take place on May 2 at 9 a.m. in front of the Eiffel Tower. Several NGO spokespersons will be on hand to answer questions from invited journalists.
The ravages of explosive weapons
The escalation of violence in Gaza has reached an unprecedented level of severity. Israeli bombings have deprived Gaza residents of vital goods and services: the violence has damaged or destroyed approximately 62% of all homes in Gaza. 84% of health facilities were destroyed or damaged. The level of destruction is such that the territory has become almost uninhabitable.
The countries targeted by this campaign
This campaign is mainly aimed at the following countries, among the main suppliers of arms to Israel:
The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Australia, which are major arms exporters to Israel, particularly the United States and Germany.
“Without stopping arms transfers, bombings in populated areas will never stop. The escalation of violence in Gaza since October 7 is fueled by the proliferation of weapons and may be a form of complicity in violations of international law. This Global Day of Action on May 2 is a crucial step in ending the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. »
Florence Daunis, Director of International Operations at HI
The objectives of this global day of action
- Raise Awareness: The event aims to raise awareness in the global community of the devastating impact of arms transfers on human rights, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Civilians suffer the violence and devastating consequences of the proliferation of weapons.
- Advocate for policy change: Campaign participants are calling on governments around the world, particularly those identified as major arms exporters to Israel, to end arms transfers.
