World Habitat is horrified by the ongoing military action in Gaza and the unimaginable human suffering it has caused. As an organisation committed to the right to safe, secure housing for all, we are deeply disturbed by the loss of life, and the scale of destruction and displacement taking place.
Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble. Over a million people have been forced from their homes, many of whom have now been displaced multiple times with nowhere safe to go. Families who once lived peacefully are now struggling to survive in tents, overcrowded shelters, or out in the open without basic protection from the elements.
We do not believe that the destruction of homes is an unfortunate side effect of war, it appears to be a deliberate and systematic dismantling of civilian life. Alongside this, the blockade on essential supplies, the collapse of healthcare, and widespread starvation caused by blocked food supplies are crimes under international law. Last week the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel reported its findings and concluded that the situation amounts to genocide.
Every person deserves a safe place to call home. In Gaza, that right is being disregarded on a horrifying scale. We join the many voices calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid, and end to the forced displacement of people, and the urgent reconstruction of housing and infrastructure. We also call for justice, accountability, and a long-term commitment to peace and dignity for all people in the region.
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