"As movements fighting against systems of injustice that view black, brown and indigenous peoples as disposable, to be sacrificed by racist and colonial systems of exploitation and domination, we see the struggle of the Palestinian people against occupation and apartheid as part and parcel of our collective struggle for climate, racial, economic and political justice and for a world where everyone has the right to live with dignity, free from oppression."
We are enraged and grieve equally the loss of lives of all civilians - Palestinian and Israeli - that have taken place since 7 October and call for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.
We decry the fact that for many Northern Governments, Palestinian lives are deemed as being of less value and worth as those of Israeli citizens. This has allowed tens of thousands of Palestinians being killed with impunity over the decades as a result of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. People whose names and dreams, like those of our peoples in the global South, sacrificed to colonialism.
In the latest indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, Israel has already killed more than 5000 Palestinians including at least 2360 children, displacing over 1 million people, as it collectively punishes the Palestinian people. In just one week, between 7-12 October, Israel dropped over 6,000 bombs on the Palestinian people living under its illegal occupation, more than the US dropped in a whole year during its war on Afghanistan. Whilst Human Rights Watch has confirmed that Israel has used a banned chemical weapon - white phosphorous - in civilian areas in the Gaza Strip, causing severe burns and uncontrollable fires.
We are devastated by the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza which killed 471 injured and sick Palestinians, including women, children, doctors, nurses, and those seeking refuge from the retaliatory bombardment by Israel. To date, the World Health Organisation has documented 76 attacks on healthcare workers, 26 healthcare facilities including 17 hospitals have been attacked, as well as attacks on UN schools where Palestinians are sheltering for safety.
The Occupied Palestinian Territory of Gaza is facing a “complete siege” with the purposeful targeting of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and schools which constitute war crimes under international law. Israel is also blocking food, water, fuel and medicine to a captive population of 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom are children, as a weapon of war.
While in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the West Bank, Israel has imposed a total blockade. The Israeli military is attacking Palestinians protesting the genocide in the Gaza Strip with lethal military force, and is providing thousands of weapons to Israeli settlers inside the West Bank, who are attacking and killing Palestinians.
Israel has openly made genocidal statements that ‘Gaza will be reduced to rubble’ and called the Palestinians ‘human animals’. As climate justice movements we recognise the language of racism and colonialism that has been used to justify the sacrificing and killing of so many of our people across the global South.
The current war in Gaza is not an isolated event but is deeply rooted in ongoing colonization, illegal occupation, systemic injustices, and historical oppression of Palestine by an apartheid state. Israel has repeatedly disregarded the international humanitarian law and human rights principles that demand the protection of civilians, especially in conflict zones, as it escalated its genocidal attacks in Gaza.
Israel is planning a ground offensive with intent to indiscriminately kill Palestinians in north Gaza; and aims to ethnically cleanse more Palestinians in a single day than during the Nakba (Arabic for ‘catastrophe’) in 1948, when over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes - or any day since in their ongoing settler-colonial occupation of Palestine. The vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza are refugees from the Nakba.
The situation has never been more urgent. In the words of the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), “Gaza is running out of life”. As vital resources run out and Gaza’s health infrastructure – already battered by Israel’s 16 year-long blockade and periodic bombardment – ‘collapse before our eyes’, Gaza’s remaining hospitals are turning into morgues.
We call for an immediate ceasefire, and for the international community to break the blockade and end the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. We must bring an end to apartheid and occupation.
We are appalled at the US and UK refusing to support the resolutions at the United Nations Security Council calling for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip. The complicity of powerful Western nations in enabling Israel to carry out these actions with impunity is a matter of grave concern. Despite the growing evidence of human rights violations, the provision of military and financial support to Israel from these nations continues unabated. The disregard for the lives of Palestinian people is inexcusable, and it is incumbent upon these nations to end their arming of Israel and prioritise human rights.
We also call out the role and bias of politicians and international media, led by northern media, fueling the islamophobic rhetoric and dehumanization of the Palestinian people as well as the role of international tech companies and platforms in allowing the rise of islamophobic and anti-semitic hate speech and fake news.
We condemn the attempt by Northern Governments - from Germany, France, to the UK, to attempt to criminalize and ban our movements from marching and calling for Justice for Palestine. The attacks on our right to protest mirror the attacks on climate protests that are taking place in countries that bear the greatest responsibility for these injustices.
We stand in immutable solidarity with the people of Gaza and all victims of brutality and demand upholding of international law and human rights principles to protect innocent civilians.
We also stand in solidarity with Palestinians and Jews who are protesting Israel's bombardment of Gaza and advocating for peace and justice in the region. We condemn actions taken by several governments around the world to stop these protests and the arrest of peaceful demonstrators.
There can be no peace without justice and it is a moral imperative for the global community to stand in unity with the oppressed. We call on all our governments and international bodies to work together to end the war, and to bring all those responsible for war crimes to justice. We demand an end to the occupation and genocide of the Palestinian people and urge for resolution that can ensure that both Palestinians and Israelis can live with security and dignity.
In light of the ongoing violence and the appalling human rights violations in Gaza by the apartheid state of Israel, we call for the following urgent measures:
Aotearoa Maori
Auckland Peace Action
Climate Club New Zealand
Climate Justice Taranaki
Environmental Justice Ōtepoti
Generation Zero
Rise Up for Climate Justice Aotearoa
The Crooked Spoke
ARGENTINA
FUNAM (Environmental Defense Foundation)
Periodistas por el Planeta
AUSTRALIA
UN Association of Australia Queensland Branch
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Adivasi Samity
Bangladesh Bacolight Shramik Federation
Bangladesh Bhasaman Nari Shramik
Bangladesh Bhasaman Shramik Union
Bangladesh Chattra Sabha
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA)
Bangladesh Jatyo Shramik Federation
Bangladesh Krishok Federation
Bangladesh Kishani Sabha
Bangladesh Krishok Sabha
Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity
Bangladesh Rural Intellectuals' Front
Bangladesh Sangjukto Shramik Federation
Bangladesh Shramik Federation
Charbangla Bittoheen Samobay Samity
COAST Foundation
Emarat Nirman Shramik Bangladesh
Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh [EquityBD]
Ganochhaya Sanskritic Kendra
Jago, Bangladesh. Garment Workers' Federation
KOTHOWAIN (Vulnerable Peoples Development Organization)
La Verita Onlus Bangladesh chapter (V.O.I.D.)
Motherland Garment Workers' Federation
Pittacchara Forest and Biodiversity Initiatives
Progressive Peasants’ Council
Ready Made Garment Workers' Federation
UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternative)
Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)
Waterkeepers Bangladesh
Youthnet For Climate Justice - Youthnet Global
BELGIUM
Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM Belgium)
BOLIVIA
Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático
Ramonas
Reacción Climática
BRAZIL
FASE
Fórum da Amazônia Oriental (FAOR)
Frente Ampla Democrática Socioambiental (FADS)
Gestos
SUSTENTAR Interdisciplinary Institute for Studies and Research on Sustainability
CANADA
Vision GRAM-International
CHILE
Alianza Basura Cero Chile
Antu Kai Mawen, Música tierra
Colectivo VientoSur
Comité dd.hh. y Ecológicos de Quilpué
Coordinadora Nacional de Inmigrantes de Chile
Fundación El Arbol
Movimiento por el Agua y los Territorios (MAT)
Observatorio del maltrato a personas mayores. Quilpué
Red de Acción por los Derechos Ambientales (RADA)
COLOMBIA
Censat Agua Viva
Habitat Bambú
Plataforma Colombiana de Niñez y Juventud
Vamos Por los Derechos
CZECH REPUBLIC
Ekumenická akademie (Ecumenical Academy)
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Organisation Paysanne Pour le Développement Durable
ECUADOR
Acción Ecológica
EGYPT
Colectivo de Geografía Crítica del Ecuador
New Woman Foundation
EL SALVADOR
CESTA Friends of the Earth El Salvador
FIJI
Diverse voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality
Fiji Youth SRHR Alliance
SISI Initiative Site Support Group
FRENCH POLYNESIA
SOS Moorea
GERMANY
Kolumbienkampagne Berlin
#LifeNotCoal - #LebenStattKohle
GUATEMALA
Asociación Ceiba
GUINEA
Réseau des femmes pour l' environnement et le développement durable
GUYANA
Justice Institute Guyana, Inc.
The Greenheart Movement
HONDURAS
Ecore Honduras
Foro Indigena
INDIA
All India Women Hawkers Federation (AIWHF)
Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha (BJVJ)
Environics Trust
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan
Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
Kamgar Ekata Union
Mines, minerals and People (mmP)
National Alliance of Agriculture & Allied Workers Union (NAAWU)
National Hawker Federation (NHF)
People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL)
INDONESIA
Aksi Ekologi and Emansipasi Rakyat - AEER (Ecological Action and People's Emancipation)
Gema Alam NTB
Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ)
National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT)
WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia)
Women Working Group (WWG)
IRAQ
Darya Developing Women and Community
IRELAND
Ecojustice Ireland
Financial Justice Ireland
Friends of the Earth Ireland
IVORY COAST
Syndicat des Enseignants de l’Education Nationale, de l’Enseignement Technique et Professionnel (SYENET)
JAMAICA
Imani, Hope & Love Foundation
JAPAN
Friends of the Earth Japan
UNISC International
JORDAN
Dibeen for Environmental Development
KENYA
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center
Hope for Kenya Slum Adolescents Initiative
MALAYSIA
Centre for Independent Journalism
Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY)
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization (MSN)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) - Friends of the Earth
LEBANON
Learn Sustain
MALI
Association for the Promotion of Young Girls and Women (AMPJF)
MEXICO
Alianza Mexicana Contra el Fracking
Asociación Ecológica Santo Tomás
CartoCrítica
Conexiones Climáticas
Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia
Freshwater Action Network Mexico
MONGOLIA
Oyu Tolgoi Watch
MYANMAR
Karen Environmental Social Action Network (KESAN)
Karen Rivers Watch (KRW), Myanmar
Save the Salween Network (SSN), Myanmar
NEPAL
All Nepal Peasants Federation (ANPFa)
All Nepal Women Association (ANWA)
Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal
Center for Good Governance and Peace (CGGAP)
Defenders of Nature
Digo Bikas Institute (DBI)
Fight Inequality Alliance Nepal (FIA) Nepal
Forum for Community Upliftment System Nepal (FOCUS-Nepal)
General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)
Jagaran, Nepal
National Alliance for Human Rights and Social Justice (Human Rights Alliance Nepal)
National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal
Nepal Integrated Development Initiation (NIDI)
Rural Reconstruction Nepal
Tax and Fiscal Justice Alliance (TAFJA Nepal)
WOREC Nepal
NIGER
Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l’Environnement (ANSEN)
NIGERIA
Green Leaf Advocacy and Empowerment Center
Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF)
PAKISTAN
Akhuwat Kissan
ALC Law
Anjuman e Muzareen e Punjab
ASR Resource Center
Beaconhouse National Uni
Cholistan Development Council
Clean and Green Khai
Climate Activists Collective
Community Developers Association (CDA)
Community Initiatives for Development Pakistan (CIDP)
Crofter Foundation
Feminist Collective Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan Social Welfare Organization
Haqooq e Khalq Movement
Home Net Pakistan
Indus Consortium for Humanitarian, Environment and Development Initiative
Kissan Ikkat
Kissan Karkeela
Kissan Ravi Club
Labour Education Foundation
Labour Qomi Movement
Lok Sujag
PakAid
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC)
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF)
Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)
Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED)
Progressive Student's Collective
Sanga
Sawera Foundation
Sindh Hari Porchat Council
South Asia Partnership Pakistan
Sukaar Welfare Organization
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
Tameer e Nau Women's Worker Organization
Textile Powerloom Garments Workers Federation
Vision Building Future
Visionary Forum
Young Reformers
PERU
Colectiva de Geografía Crítica Contingente Perú
Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climático
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
TierrActiva Peru
PHILIPPINES
350 Pilipinas
Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)
Bantay Kita
Break- free Pilipinas, Break - free from Fossil Gas - Philippine Campaign
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP-Workers Solidarity)
Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)
Computer Professionals' Union
Ecological Justice Interfaith Movement (ECOJIM)
ETC Group Philippines
Fellowship for the Care of Creation Association, Inc. (FCCAI)
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)
Gitib, Inc.
Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas
Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML)
Oriang Women’s Movement
Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)
SANLAKAS
SAVE Philippines
Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK)
Solidarity for People's Education and Lifelong Learning (SPELL)
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
Youth for Climate Justice –Mindanao
Youth for Climate Justice –Tacloban
PORTUGAL
Associação Academia Cidadã
SCOTLAND
Unite Community
CODEPINK
Corporate Accountability
Earth Ethics, Inc.
Earth Justice Ministries
Faithfully Sustainable
Fossil Free Media
Jewish Voice for Peace
Justice is Global
Social Eco Education (SEE)
The California Allegory
The Oakland Institute
UZBEKISTAN
Ecoforum of NGOs of Uzbekistan
Ассоциация "За экологически чистую Фергану"(Association for an Environmentally Friendly Fergana)
Ziyo Nur
VENEZUELA
Fundacion Aguaclara Venezuelan
Political Ecology Observatory
YEMEN
Center of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
ZAMBIA
Zambia Climate Action Network Foundation
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD)
INDIVIDUALS
Tian Chua - Former Member of Parliament, Malaysia
Atty. Corazón Valdez - Fabros - Co-President, International Peace Bureau (IPB)
Alexandra Arntsen - Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
Prof. Naser Abdelkarim - Arab American University, Palestine
Yasmine Ibrahim - The American University in Cairo, Egypt
Gert Van Hecken - Asso. professor, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Ray Bush - Professor Emeritus, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Helen Saldanha - Social Work, India
Lisa Marie Smith - Retired Nurse, England
Amal Ibrahim Sabri - Retired Egyptian Environment & Development Consultant & Researcher, Egypt
Sohair Sabry - Retired Translator and Writer, Egypt
Cristina Santacruz - MA Student, Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Ecuador
Eleonoora Karttunen - Doctoral Researcher, University of Finland, Finland
Erich Vogt - Lecturer, University of Toronto, Canada
Lukas Slothuus - Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
Mahar Safdar Ali - Social Activist, Association of People of Asia, Pakistan
Lama Dajani - Artist, Damascus, Syria
Luca Ferrari - Researcher, Mexico
Megan Fraser - Future Led, Vancouver, Canada
Lora Barry - Canada
Aleida Azamar Alonso - Researcher, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México
Mark Vossler - USA