With the aim of exerting international pressure on the world leadership and strengthening the call for a sustained ceasefire in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, various civil organizations across the world are jointly organizing a Global Day of Action on 18 December through mass public demonstrations, rallies, vigils, and sit-ins.
The event is being organised by humanitarian and human rights NGOs from more than 90 countries across the world. In total, more than 3 million signatures have been recorded across three major ceasefire petitions – Change.org, Amnesty International, and Avaaz. The Global Day of Action will activate and make visible the collective strength and power of international calls on political leaders to push for a ceasefire.
In Nepal, too, with the aim of showing solidarity to this campaign, Amnesty International Nepal is coordinating for the organization of a rally on the same day, i.e., on 18 December. The rally will start from Shanti Batika, Ratnapark and will convert into a corner meeting in Narayan Chaur, Naxal.
Since the conflict escalated on 7 October, more than 18,700 civilians have died. Inside Gaza, 1.9 million people – nearly 80% of the population – have been forcibly displaced and civilians are struggling to survive amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Since the six-day ceasefire ended on November 29, the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe has been unprecedented. Bloodshed and suffering have reached an unparalleled intensity and scale in Gaza.
“Over the past two and a half months, the violence that continues unabated in Gaza is horrifying. And the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding by the raging conflict is deeply distressing and terrifying. We need an immediate and complete ceasefire in Gaza to end this horror and prevent further death and devastation,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal.
“Urgent action must be taken to prevent further death and human suffering, and the world leaders must hear our call for an immediate, sustained and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza,” he added.
The short humanitarian truce that had lasted for six days (from 24 to 29 November) was by no means sufficient to help the thousands affected by the raging conflict. And the renewed war has increased the bloodshed and suffering in Gaza to an unparalleled intensity and scale.
Only a sustainable ceasefire can prevent further loss of civilian life and provide adequate aid to those in need. But at the moment, a sustainable cease-fire seems unlikely, and the imperative of a global and strong voice for this has increased.
“We sincerely appeal to everyone to come and help raise a collective and unified voice to the world’s political leadership that demands an end to the ongoing conflict and enforce an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Palestinian civilians should not pay the price. Humanity has to prevail,” said Thapaliya.