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We, leaders of French and international humanitarian, development and human rights NGOs, call on the President of the Republic to take action for the survival of the Palestinian people.
France, together with Saudi Arabia, will co-chair the United Nations conference “for the implementation of the two-state solution” on July 28 and 29 in New York. Initially planned for June 17 to 20, 2025, the conference was postponed because of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran at that time.
As the Israeli government has imposed a near-total siege on the Gaza Strip since March 2, and the de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank continues, the success of the conference will depend on concrete and immediate actions to lift ongoing threats against the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and put an end to serious violations of international law by the Israeli authorities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
This has been demonstrated by the examination of a case brought before the International Court of Justice by South Africa against Israel for the crime of genocide in Gaza. The gravity of the situation has been extensively documented by the United Nations, by several of our organizations and by other human rights groups. Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (Human Rights League) and CCFD-Terre Solidaire denounce the genocide taking place in Gaza. This has also been demonstrated by the opinion of the International Court of Justice in July 2024 concluding that Israel’s occupation is unlawful.
Countries participating in the conference should act immediately to put an end to the indiscriminate bombing of the civil population and infrastructure, and to forced displacement, and lift the unacceptable and unlawful obstacles put in place by the Israeli authorities to deliberately deprive Palestinians in the Gaza Strip of vital humanitarian aid. The conference should also press the Israeli government to put an end to the unlawful confiscation of land in the occupied West Bank.
The near-total siege of Gaza is against humanitarian law and all humanitarian principles. Yet forced displacement orders have been issued in 86.3 per cent of the territory and 92 per cent of housing has been destroyed. At the same time, hunger is being used as a weapon of war, access to water is deliberately restricted by the Israeli authorities, and extreme restrictions on the import of fuel threaten to wipe out all services that are essential for the survival of the population of Gaza. The piecemeal delivery of militarized and privatized aid, led by the USA and Israel, has, since the end of May, shown itself to be nothing more than a deadly trap for civilians. By July 13, almost 900 people have been killed as they were trying to access food aid, including 674 in the areas around the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s distribution sites.
Mr President, you are responsible for the actions or inaction of the French State. Public statements are no longer enough when civilians, including many children, are dying of hunger and deliberate shortages, under constant bombardment. The limited ceasefire declared at the start of the year provided real relief to the civilian population of Gaza, and France should work toward a definitive end to the ongoing atrocities, as well as the unconditional release of the hostages. Humanitarian aid, delivered by independent and impartial organizations, should reach Gaza. On July 10, the European Union announced it had reached an agreement with Israel to increase the number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip; as of today, we have not observed any substantial change which would enable a proper response to the humanitarian needs in the enclave. People in need of urgent treatment, particularly children, should be able to be evacuated and France should do more to organize and receive these medical evacuations.
Beyond Gaza, it is essential to tackle the root causes of the conflict. Between January and June 2025, Israeli settlers carried out an average of four attacks each day in the West Bank, an increase of 13 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. In addition, our teams face increased restrictions of movement in the West Bank, which considerably limit Palestinian communities’ access to essential services.
The United Nations General Assembly resolution of September 2024 which decided to hold this conference, and which France voted for, demands that Israel end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory within 12 months. The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in July 2024 reaffirms the obligations of States: they cannot engage in economic or commercial relations with Israeli settlements.
Mr President, France must respect its obligations with regard to international law and the principles it claims to uphold. Its actions should be coherent with its vote at the UN General Assembly. This means, among other things, that France, along with all European Union member states, should prohibit trade and commercial relations with the illegal settlements, as requested by the International Court of Justice. And it should stop all transfers of military equipment and components to the Israeli government. The risk that they could be used to carry out crimes is no longer in question.
Recognition of the Palestinian State should not obscure the absolute emergency in Gaza or the continuation of settlements and violence in the West Bank. Without a population and without land, a Palestinian State will remain an illusion. Essential, concrete and immediate action is possible to enable the unhindered supply of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians, and to put a definitive end to atrocities and impunity in order to initiate a genuine way out of the crisis.
Mr President, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza need more than mere statements of principles : concrete and immediate action that reflects the urgency and the gravity of the situation should be taken. Be on the side of justice: make this conference a decisive moment for the Palestinian people and for the respect of their most basic rights.
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UN Conference on Palestine: Now is the time for action – Human Rights Watch
