Human Rights Organizations Stress the Need to Hold Occupation Leaders Accountable
01/12/2025 – Union for Justice
Human rights organizations mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977 under Resolution (32/40 B), at a critical historical moment in which Palestinians—particularly in the Gaza Strip—are experiencing one of the harshest humanitarian tragedies in history. This comes amid the continued Israeli occupation policy of genocide, siege, starvation, and systematic destruction of residential areas and essential services.
This commemoration takes place against the backdrop of a fragile truce that has yet to end the humanitarian catastrophe facing more than two million people in the Gaza Strip. Residents remain deprived of the most basic necessities of life—food, water, healthcare, electricity, and shelter—while hundreds of thousands are living in the open or among rubble after entire neighborhoods were razed to the ground by intensive Israeli bombardment.
“Hind Rajab”: A Testament to the Brutality of the Occupation
Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution (60/37) of 2005, events marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People continue this year and are scheduled to conclude on 4 December with the screening of the documentary film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” at United Nations headquarters in New York. The film is directed by Oscar-nominated Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania.
The documentary recounts the story of Palestinian child Hind Rajab, who was killed in January 2024 in the Tal al-Hawa area south of Gaza City after the Israeli occupation army targeted the vehicle in which she was traveling with her family. All those accompanying her were killed instantly, leaving Hind trapped among their bodies for days.
Despite her repeated calls to ambulance crews seeking rescue, occupation forces targeted the rescue team attempting to reach her. Twelve days later, the child was found dead.
The story of Hind—and thousands of similar stories—clearly exposes the extent of brutality and the blatant violation of international humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the hindering of rescue operations, all of which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
On This Occasion, Human Rights Organizations Affirm the Following:
That mere expressions of solidarity and routine activities are no longer sufficient in light of the continued Israeli occupation and its repressive policies. The occupation is the root cause of the suffering of the Palestinian people, and no lasting peace can be achieved without its complete end and the accountability of its leaders.
That what the Palestinian territories—especially the Gaza Strip—have witnessed since 7 October 2023 constitutes a full-fledged genocide under the definition set forth in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, requiring urgent and binding international action.
The necessity for governments worldwide and international bodies to fulfill their responsibilities by exerting pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to respect international humanitarian law, cease targeting civilians, and allow the immediate and unconditional entry of humanitarian aid and rescue teams into the Gaza Strip.
Support for UN-led efforts to organize solidarity events, including the annual exhibition on the rights of the Palestinian people, and to highlight crimes committed against them, while encouraging states to provide the widest possible media coverage of this occasion.
Support for the measures announced by the International Court of Justice in connection with the case brought before it against Israel, and the prompt enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against occupation leaders for their responsibility in committing the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, in addition to crimes against humanity including willful killing, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
Reaffirmation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish their independent state on the entirety of Palestinian territory with Jerusalem as its capital, as an inalienable right that does not lapse with time.
The undersigned organizations commend all documented UN reports on the crimes of genocide committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, and renew their solidarity with human rights experts who face intimidation for carrying out their duties under international law—particularly Ms. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory—praising her efforts in uncovering facts and exposing misleading narratives.
They further emphasize that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is not merely a symbolic occasion, but a global call to renew moral and legal commitment toward a people who have endured the most severe forms of occupation, killing, and siege for decades. Genuine solidarity begins with condemning violations, working seriously to end impunity, and supporting the Palestinian people’s right to establish a fully sovereign state, end the occupation, and live in dignity and security on their land.
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