In the light of the recent ceasefire, we will be updating the website….
HUMANITY
CAN’T WAIT
For Justice and Peace in the Middle East
We aim to gather the voices calling to end the violence, for good, for the sake of all those affected by the current conflict.
And to make those voices heard.
Once live, this platform will be available in several languages.
A Global Call
Recognise Palestine: Uphold Sovereignty and Basic Rights
Recognising a Palestinian state is essential for moving past the current deadlock.
End the Violence: Governments Unite for Peace in Palestine/Israel
Every nation must call for an immediate end to all forms of violence in Palestine, Israel and surrounding territories.
Stop the War Crimes: No Military or Economic Support
Governments worldwide must cease economic and military backing for the Israeli regime and Hamas, both of which are in serious breach of international law.
Protect Life: Clean Water, Food, and Medical Aid
Every nation must champion efforts to prevent starvation, attend to medical needs and recovery from a humanitarian catastrophe.
Pathway to Peace: Ensuring Stability
Global collaboration must be stepped up to forge sustainable solutions for peace and prosperity in the region.
This Call seeks to focus on the resolution of the conflict, the meeting of humanitarian needs and a path to a sustainable future. Legal accountability for past actions is a matter for mandated legal fora.
endorse the call and add your name to the map
This map will be interactive
Each person a dot on the map - lights lit in windows around the world, signifying a network of consciousness, willingness, watchfulness -
and exerting pressure on our leaders!
Silver dot: individual
Gold dot: organisation
Copper dot: company
1. Historical perspective
The more clearly we understand the history of Israel and Palestine, the clearer the lines of possible solution will be. (See Background.)
2. Precedents
South African apartheid
Genocide against native Americans, in U.S.A and Canada
Expropriation and near extermination of original inhabitants of Australia
The genocide of Jews, Slavic and Romany people in Nazi-occupied Europe typically began with the creation of ghettos and driving people from their homes or off the land.
3. Legal perspectives
Recent UN determinations:
The ICJ declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, encompassing the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, as unlawful under international law and emphasised that Israel's actions amount to annexation.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a historic advisory opinion declaring Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory—comprising the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip (together the Occupied Palestinian Territory, or OPT)—to be illegal under international law. The ICJ opinion also called for the immediate and total withdrawal of Israeli settlers from the OPT.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/08/12/icj-israel-palestine-gaza-occupation-settlers/
The UN Commission finds war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israeli attacks on Gaza health facilities and treatment of detainees, hostages
4. Economic perspective
The arms supply to Israel from the US and Europe needs to be stopped. There are also questions of semi-hidden trade deals, and also the power of rich American donors over the conduct of the ICC, the ICJ - and until a few years ago Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Why this call now
5. Global perspectives
Major factors are the support of the U.S.A and Europe for Israel, and the way that the media narrative has been distorted in all these countries - to the detriment of the Palestinian people - from the late 1940s until now.
6. Common Sense
Hamas and Hezbollah are ideologically motivated political and social movements formed to resist occupation, aggression and injustice, using political means and violence. Using further occupation, aggression and injustice against them, motivates them further to continue on a path of violence.
7. Ethical considerations
The central ethical issues are fairness, justice and truth-telling. Ethics is about caring - about people's lives, about the planet and about truth-telling.
The opposite of 'truth-telling' is misinformation - this includes the strategic lies that become almost routine in war situations. We peacemakers, who still believe in the good of humanity, have to find a way to see beyond the lies.
8. Solutions-based Perspective
There are many different angles from which constructive solutions can be envisaged, and some of these are explored in the background information that we are sharing on this site.
9. Future focus
How can this crisis be solved by cooperating international parties, not least for the future of the international rules-based order? This must also be a future where nations, cultures and religions bring out the best in each other and potentiate developments on multiple levels.
Thinking about 'the future' raises questions of strategy. Many of today's strategies, especially those pursued by the current Israeli administration, are patently absurd, once you start to think in terms of ultimate likely outcomes. (See 'Background'.)
If you would like to take another step…
See the resources below:
Trauma Healing Resources
Where Olive Trees Weep has resources for intergenerational trauma healing towards the end of their Resources page.
Also linked to from their website:
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Palestinian Counselling Centre
Dialogue Resources
Peace and Justice Initiatives
Documentaries, Films and Testimonies
About Us
We are a diverse, multi-disciplinary team from several countries brought together by a passion for justice and peace. We are inspired by the axiom ascribed to Mahatma Gandhi: ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’
