Famine has been declared in Gaza. Palestinian civil society and allied institutions have issued a unified call for the deployment of a diplomatic humanitarian convoy to break the siege of Gaza. This is a simple request, urging states to commit to sending a diplomatic convoy in adherence to their international legal obligations. The more states that join this commitment, the greater the likelihood that this tactic of diplomatic pressure will succeed.
Legal scholars and practitioners are invited to sign this statement endorsing the unified call.
Sign the statement here.
We, the undersigned international lawyers and legal scholars and practitioners, endorse the urgent and unified demand issued by over 1,000 civil society organisations: The deliberate starvation of Gaza’s civilian population constitutes a grave violation of international law and must be halted immediately. The international community has a legal and moral obligation to act decisively by launching a diplomatic humanitarian convey to break the siege of Gaza.
The facts before us are clear and incontrovertible. Since 2 March 2025, Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, cutting off all humanitarian supplies—the longest and most severe siege in the territory’s history. As documented by UNICEF, OCHA, UNRWA, and the World Food Programme Gaza’s farmland has been destroyed, fishing waters are inaccessible, bakeries and community kitchens have shut down, and hospitals lack even basic supplies. 92% of children under two and breastfeeding mothers face acute malnutrition, while famine-related deaths are already occurring.
This is not a crisis of scarcity but of enforced deprivation. Over 3,000 aid trucks and 116,000 metric tonnes of food stand ready at Gaza’s borders, obstructed solely by Israel—an act of collective punishment, and weaponisation of aid in direct violation of:
- The Geneva Conventions (Article 55 of GCIV, prohibiting starvation of civilians);
- The Rome Statute (Article 8(2)(b)(xxv), defining starvation as a war crime);
- The ICJ’s provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel (26 January 2024), calling for unhindered delivery of aid;
- The ICJ’S Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian territories (9 July 2024) ascertaining that Israel does not have any lawful authority in Gaza, and that it cannot justify violations of international law under the prism of security concerns.
Instead of ending the illegal blockade and continued aggression identified by the ICJ as a plausible genocide, Israel and the US are proposing to take exclusive control over the distribution of aid in Gaza, deploying Private Military Contractors to oversee the operations. This proposal is in violation of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the Palestinian people’s right of self-determination, the rules of occupation – and facilitates wider forms of collective punishment, and the use of starvation as a method of warfare.
The UN Secretary-General and High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly reiterated that third states bear positive obligations under international law to ensure compliance. These obligations are premised on the duty to prevent genocide, cooperate to end grave illegalities, and to protect the Palestinian people. To fulfil their obligations, states and political representatives must act urgently towards:
- Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy: We call on all states to deploy official diplomatic missions to accompany aid trucks into Gaza via Rafah.
- Unhindered Aid Access: States must coordinate with Egypt and the UN to guarantee safe passage for humanitarian convoys, rejecting Israel’s militarization of aid distribution.
- Individual Diplomatic Action: Where governments refuse to act, we urge parliamentarians, jurists, and diplomats to join the convoy in their personal capacities, to uphold the international community’s ethical and legal responsibilities.
- Media and Civil Society Mobilization: Legal professionals, journalists, and human rights monitors must document violations to ensure accountability for starvation crimes and counter misinformation.
Participating in the effort represents the bare minimum threshold of responsibility. States must also work towards imposing a three-way arms embargo against Israel, multilateral efforts to unseat Israel from the UN General Assembly, terminate trade relations with Israel which sustain and further entrench its illegal occupation, halt diplomatic relations with Israel, and facilitate and support legal proceedings against perpetrators of atrocities.
Every hour of delay accelerates the atrocities that Israel is perpetrating against Palestinians, and erodes the possibility of justice being obtained through international law.
Sign the statement here.
Signatories:
- Dr. Shahd Hammouri, University of Kent
- Vasuki Nesiah, NYU
- Dr Juliette McIntyre, University of South Australia
- Sinéad Mercier, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
- Maha Abdallah, Faculty of Law, University of Antwerp
- John Reynolds, School of Law & Criminology, Maynooth University, Ireland
- Sibylle Grohs, Lawyer
- Gavan Daly, University of Liverpool
- Professor Stephen Thomas, University of Greenwich
- Liam Cashman, retired European Commission official
- Professor Susan Baker, Cardiff University
- Dr Amy Strecker, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
- Eoin Brady, Partner, FP Logue LLP
- Micaela Frulli, Professor of International, University of Florence
- John Kenny BL, Law Library Dublin
- Louise Reilly
- Ann FitzGerald BL
- Maria Juliana Tenorio, PhD UBA
- Diana María Beltrán Vargas, Universidad Externado de Colombia
- Rónán Kennedy, School of Law, University of Galway
- Hişam Alotaibi
- Emine Güneş, Samsun University
- Fatma Bostan Ünaal
- Colette Stewart
- Laura Betancur-Restrepo, Associate Professor, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
- Usha Natarajan, Melbourne Law School
- Haris Jamil, University of Melbourne
- Saika Sabir, La Trobe University
- Aman, University of New South Wales & Jindal Global Law School
- Jessica Whyte, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Law, University of New
- South Wales
- Shanil Wijesinha, UNSW
- Shohini Sengupta, UNSW
- Fia Hamid-Walker, Melbourne Law School
- Daniel Stein, Jindal Global Law School, OP Jindal Global University
- Kamya Vishwanath, Independent
- Abdullah Nasir, National Law University, Lucknow, India
- Ronjini Ray, National Law School of India University
- Swati Singh Parmar, India
- Sanitya Kalika, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School
- Rasith Thariq
- Indumugi C, Lawyer, Delhi
- Dr Elliot Dolan-Evans, Monash University
- Prof Michelle Farrell, School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool
- Marion Sandner, University of Antwerp and Hasselt University
- Dr Marisa McVey (Queen’s University Belfast)
- KZA Parker, Independent legal scholar
- Anabelle Lacroix, Unsw
- Faisal Chaudhry, University of Massachusetts Law School
- Danya Reda, Wayne State University Law School
- Hananya Sunderraj, Advocate, India
- Selman Aksünger – Maastricht University
- Daniel Machover, solicitor
- Paola Zichi, Warwick Law School
- Dr. Tara Van Ho, University of Essex
- Huseyin Disli, Bogazici University Faculty of Law, Lecturer
- Mary Nazzal (Barrister)
- Tanvee Nandan, UniMelb
- Luca Saltalamacchia, Studio Legale Saltalamacchia
- Divya Srinivasan
- Muhammet Hamza Unal, Istanbul Bar Association
- Feyzullah Çiftçi
- Hasan Basri Bulbul, Boğaziçi University, Turkey
- Dr Rehana Parveen, University of Birmingham Law School
- Dr. Gamze Erdem Türkelli, University of Antwerp
- Laith Aqel, Yale Law School
- Mahvish Ahmad, Co-Director LSE Human Rights, Assistant Professor Human
- Rights and Politics, London School of Economics
- Huwaida Arraf, Human Rights Attorney (USA)
- Vincent Wong, University of Windsor Faculty of Law
- Gonzalo Rivas
- Suzanne Adely, National Lawyers Guild US, International Association of Democratic Lawyers
- Sara Dehm, University of Technology Sydney
- Nasir Qadri, RGSL Europe
- Jordana Silverstein, University of Melbourne
- Prof. Yussef Al Tamimi, Central European University
- Dr Jasmin Johurun Nessa, University of Bristol Law School
- Dimitri Van Den Meerssche, Queen Mary University of London
- Dr Yonit Percival, Lawyer
- Mark Beaumont Taylor, PhD
- Tamara Vicencio, Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano
- Muhammed Emin Başbük
- Matías Palma Hermosilla, abogado Universidad de Chile
- Ali Remzi Yıldırım, Lawyer at Antalya Bar Association
- Alexandra Tuane, Chilean AttorneyAnil Yilmaz, University of Essex
- Anil Yilmaz, University of Essex
- Cyra Akila Choudhury, FIU College of Law
- Eric Loefflad, Lecturer in Law, University of Kent
- Ebuzer Çelik
- Dr Tom Frost, University of Kent
- Amira Hetaba, formerly American University in Cairo
- Seyfullah Faruk Kaya, İstanbul Bar Association (graduate of İstanbul University Law Faculty)
- Edwin Gonzalez
- Mehmet Sedat Demir, atty
- Hala abu hijleh
- Celine Reymond
- Richard Joyce, Melbourne Law School
- Danae Sukni
- Jose Miralles, Sociedad Civil
- Nicolás Salhus Mardones
- Jorge Mashini Facuse , private practice
- John Sebastian, University of Melbourne
- Lana Tatour, University of New South Wales
- Daniel Mcloughlin, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW
- Kathy Bowrey, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW
- Jill Hunter, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW
- Professor Luke McNamara, UNSW Law and Justice
- Dylan Holdsworth, Deakin University
- Sophie Rigney, RMIT University
- Dr Julia Dehm, La Trobe School of Law, Australia
- Dr Liz Hicks, Melbourne Law School
- Wanshu Cong, The Australian National University
- Caitlin Biddolph, University of Technology Sydney
- Maria Paulina Godoy
- Amal Naser, Lawyer
- Associate Professor Stacey Henderson, Flinders University
- Dr Emma Russell, La Trobe University
- Professor Lucas Lixinski, UNSW Sydney
- André Dao, Melbourne Law School
- Rawan Arraf, Principal Lawyer and Executive Director, Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)
- Alissar Gazal
- Dylan Lino, University of Queensland
- Sukhmani Khorana, UNSW
- Associate Professor Elise Klein, ANU
- Dr Souheir Edelbi, School of Law, Western Sydney University
- Hassan Moussa
- Sumedha Choudhury, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne
- Lisa van Toor – Murdoch University
- Professor Anthony Burke, UNSW
- Associate Professor Matthew Zagor, ANU Law School
- Amritha V. Shenoy, Nepal
- Constanza Hermosilla
- James C. Fisher, ANU Law School
- Emma Palmer, Griffith University
- Mary Anne Kenny, Murdoch University
- Linda Steele, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney
- Faiza Rahman, Melbourne Law School
- Associate Professor Anna Copeland, Murdoch University
- Jessica Williamson, Director, WLW Migration Lawyers
- Maria Elander, La Trobe Law School
- Andrea Saliba, Secretary of American University of Iraq Foundation
- Professor Rebecca Monson, ANU Law School, Australian National University
- Siham El Masou Atuez, Abogada Universidad de Chile
- Professor Shiri Krebs, Deakin University
- Imen Chakchouk
- Professor Desmond Manderson, ANU
- Elizabeth Bradstreet Mulford
- Florence Anderson
- Dalál Habboob Martos
- Maria Giannacopoulos Director Centre for Criminology Law and Justice UNSW
- Affifa Rashid, a compassionate citizen of this world
- Zoe Anastassiades, Refugee Advice and Casework Service
- Lachlan Lugg – The Refugee Advice and Casework Service
- Carly Elwin, Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS)
- Alison Weiss, RACS
- Yael Torres
- Shauna Wolifson
- Olga Hernández Ávila
- Mohammed Imaduddin,Islamic society of Greater Houston
- Natalie Hanna
- Louisa Rowe, The Refugee Advice and Casework Service
- Theresita Koratty, Refugee Advice and Casework Service
- Dr Tamsin Phillipa Paige, Deakin Law School
- Sarah Easy
- Simon Leske, WLW Migration Lawyers
- Moinuddin Ashrafi
- Sophia Casusky, Muslim Sister
- Fatima Hasan
- James Wardlaw – WLW Migration Lawyers
- Isobel McGarity, RACS
- Rifat Audeh, filmmaker- The Truth: Lost at Sea
- Sarouche Razi, Sydney Law School
- Emma Aisbett, ANU
- Cassandra Bennett solicitor Byron Legal
- Matt Howard, University of Kent
- Michel Maza
- Rishabh Bajoria, PhD candidate, University of Cambridge
- Dr Jess Hambly, ANU Law
- Ahmet Emin Akın
- Nicola Soekoe, Advocate of the High Court of South Africa
- Betul Yildizhan Yildirim, Turkey Ankara Bar Association
- Ben Golder, UNSW
- Dr. Adil Hasan Khan, Melbourne Law School
- Ashraf Habbak
- Dr Ayşe Didem Sezgin
- Dean Dabbah
- Ana Rosa Valiñas Pérez
- Claudia Ordóñez
- Nermina Rosic
- Dr. Noha Aboueldahab, Georgetown University in Qatar
- Camila Alvarez Olmos
- L. Bruel
- Justine Nolan, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney
- Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas, UNAM
- Armando Soto Baeza, Plataforma Común por Palestina, México
- Paul Guevins
- Yasmeen Nasser
- Camila Paz Ramírez Rebolledo
- Lucía Melgar, independent scholar
- Carlos Loperena, Mexican lawyer
- Emma Grice
- George Dertadian, UNSW
- Shaun McVeigh, University of Melbourne
- Jesheka Jeyaneshan, WLW Migration Lawyers
- Dr Rachel Killean, University of Sydney Law School
- Professor Sonja van Wichelen, University of Sydney
- Nayomi Sivasubramaniam, WLW Migration Lawyers
- Burcu Cevik-Compiegne, ANU
- Nabilah Reza, Legal Practitioner
- Sano Prayas , Palestine Solidarity Nepal Coordination Committee (PSNCC)
- Amanah Shaikh
- Sanam Amin, PhD candidate, Melbourne Law School, & member, Unionists for Palestine
- Teresa Chomali Chilean plastic surgeon
- Dr. Aastha Dahal, Lawyer, Nepal
- Darryl Li, University of Chicago
- Nelson Hadad. Coordnator 620. Chilean. Lawyers group
- Dr Vicki Sentas, UNSW Sydney
- James Godfrey, University of Canberra
- Shada Islam, New Horizons Project
- Professor Chris Cunneen, Jumbunna Research Institute, University of Technology Sydney
- Mark Goyne, self employed
- Dr Johanna Commins, University of Melbourne
- Anthea Vogl, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney
- Enrique Quinteros MD, Universidad de Chile
- Dr Laura Griffin, La Trobe University Law School
- Professor Luis Eslava, La Trobe University
- Emeritus Professor Anwar Suleman Mall. University of Cape Town
- Julie Webb-Pullman, Gaza Centre for Human Rights
- Joyce Choo
- Donatella Alessandrini, Loughborough Law
- Megan Riley retired academic
- Dr Medeé Rall, University of Cape Town
- Sreenath Namboodiri, The Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID)
- Vlachou Stefania, PhD Student, McGill University, Faculty of Law
- Tim Lindgren, Amsterdam Center for International Law
- Yvette Borja, Teaching Fellow at UCLA Law
- Raoul Rombouts, Ghent University
- Pakeezeh (Padmini) Baruah, Asst Prof, NLSIU Bangalore
- Anna Capati, National Lawyers Guild
- Emem Udo, Legal Practitioner
- Ismail Jamie, Cape Bar
- A/Prof Fatima Seedat, University of Cape Town
- Dylan Asafo, University of Auckland
- Markus Gunneflo, Lund University Faculty of Law
- Apoorva Sharma, La Trobe University
- Erin Buckley, La Trobe University
- Dr Bruce Lindsay, Environmental Justice Australia
- Dr Louise Boon-Kuo, University of Sydney
- Professor Rana Dajani, the Hashemite University
- Aarif Rasheed, Lawyer (JustCommunity, New Zealand)
- Dalal Iriqat, AAUP
- Sanam Anderlini, (ICAN)
- Liliam, Comite de Solidaridad con Palestina- Medellin
- Marie-Thérèse Faidherbe, M.D., Master in Human Rights.
- Caitlin Murphy, Melbourne Law School
- Aravind Ganesh, Assistant Professor in Law, University of Sussex
- Alessandra Annoni (Professor of International Law, University of Ferrara)
- Cristy Clark, University of Canberra
- Mursal Rahimi, Solicitor at RACS
- Dr. Lina Koleilat, ANU
- Ted Piccone, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- Meryl Mao Jiang, Refugee Advice and Casework Services (Solicitor)
- Dr Martin Clark, Melbourne Law School
- Marc de Leeuw (UNSW Faculty Law & Justice)
- Professor Kate Ogg
- Emeritus Professor Jude McCulloch, Monash University
- Dr Anne McNaughton, The Australian National University
- Dianne Otto, Professorial Fellow, Melbourne Law School
- Tikumporn RODKHUNMUANG, PhD Student, Department of Public International Law and International Organizations, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
- Dr Asad Kiyani, University of Victoria Faculty of Law
- Paola Tinetti
- Nora Abdullah
- Sabine Rosset
- Lyn Khalidy
- Cathia Damien, Genève
- Valerie Black
- Mahtab Hanjani
- Cristina Aragona, retired UN translator
- Jonathan O’Connor
- Bilqees Akoodie LLB, LLM International Trade Candidate. Advocate for International Justice, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Stephanie Tadeo, Lawyer
- Vicky Padbury
- Dr I H Dodd
- Kris Jonsson
- Khurram Musti Khan, Friends of Palestine Canada
- Faisal Kutty, Associate Professor of Law Emeritus, Valparaiso University
- Eric C. Jacobson, Public Interest Lawyer
- Jessica Elias, University of Kent
- Rebekka Troller
- Dr Syed Mujtaba Athar, Assistant Professor (law)
- Connor Arrington, Legal Practitioner (USA)
- Michael Bader, University of Melbourne
- Dr Marjorie Jobson, National Director, Khulumani Support Group
- Amyra El Khalili, Professora Universitária Independente e Pesquisadora do CNPq
- Dr. H. Peter Langille, Sustainable Common Security
- Craig Stevens, Metro Philly Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (PA, USA)
- Emma Cawthorn, York Palestine Assembly group
- Madhukar Rao, Special Invitee IAL
- Jeff Handmaker, Associate Professor, Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Rick Sahar
- Margot Brown
- Juliet Skelly, York Palestine Assembly
- Mary Dobbs, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University, Ireland
- Dr Selbi Durdiyeva, SOAS
- Reeju Ray, Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory
- Helga Baumgarten, Birzeit University
- Nourhan Moustafa
- Dr. Netta Amar-Shiff, Mizrahi Human Rights Lawyer
- Zainab Alshammas, Italy
- Leyal Aksu, Lawyer, The Australian Workers Union, Melbourne, Victoria
- Zaha Hassan, policy analyst and human rights attorney
- Anita Ferrara, Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway
- Mohammad Shafiq
- Simon Robins, Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York
- Z Merchant
- Nizar Farsakh, Lecturer of International Affairs at George Washington University
- Dr Ihab Shalbak, University of Sydney
- Dr. Medhat Abbas Hasan
- Dr Lisa Tilley, SOAS University of London
- Veronica Koman, University of Technology Sydney
- Themis Tzimas
- Lisa Björkman, University of Louisville
- Pierandrea Leucci, ASCOMARE
- Yassin Abdalla Abdelkarim, Judge, Leeds Beckett University
- Siraj Khan, International Lawyer
- Claire Barrie
- Youmna Ghosn
- Randa Naffa
- Natacha Bracq, International Criminal Lawyer
- Jo Bluen, London School of Economics
- Mervyn Bennun
- Ali Karpasea-Jones, LLM scholar, University of Durham
- Enver Motala. Nelson Mandela University
- Dimitri Lascaris, lawyer (Canada)
- Clea Mallinson
- Aslam Moosajee, lawyer in SA.
- Ahmed Omar
- Dr Thamil Venthan Ananthavinayagan, Adjunct Lecturer Maynooth University, Adjunct Professor in Law Woxsen University; Guest Professor ESCP; Lecturer Law Society of Ireland
- Hanif Vally
- Nadia Ahmad, Barry University
- Paul Khabo, Biomedical researcher
- Advocate Aslam Bava SC
- Adv Feisal Saint, South African advocate
- Flora Rebello Arduini, LL.M. International Human Rights Law
- Alreem Kamal, International Lawyer
- Iqbal Jassat, Media Review Network
- Leilani Farha, Former UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
- Niloufer Bhagwat, Vice President Indian Association of Lawyers
- Shereen Mills (S.W. Mills Attorney)
- Giumma EL Omami, Human Rights Solidarity
- Ishaam Abader
- Monica Grobler
- Hasina Cassim – Advocate of the High Court South Africa
- Dr Thomas Phillips, School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University
- Dr. Suhayfa Bhamjee, School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Dr. Daniela Nadj, St. Mary’s University, London
- Dr Amy Strecker, School of Law, University College Dublin
- Lucy Fricker, Uni of York
- Kumari Lane, Birkbeck College
- Pedro Zucchetti Filho, ANU PhD candidate
- Miha Marcenko, Inštitut za Kriminologijo
- Mandy Turner, Security in Context
- Triestino Mariniello, Liverpool John Moores University
- Sahar el Bsat
- Joana Pereira, docent, TU Delft, the Netherlands
- Anastasiya Kotova, Lund University
- Dr Thomas MacManus, Queen Mary University of London School of Law
- David Abrahams, Research Associate NMU: IHL
- Abbas Mithani KC (Hon)
- Halla Shoaibi, Birzeit University
- Zein Hamayel, Palestinian Bar Association
- Yasmin Mosellhy, University of Antwerp
- Cesare Antetomaso, lawyer, Italy
- Luigi Galloni, Associazione Giuristi Democratici Roma
- Paola Altrui, Associazione Nazionale Giuristi Democratici
- Carmelo Picciotto
- Pietro Antonuccio, Avvocato
- Fausto Gianelli, Avvocato (Giuristi Democratici Italia)
- Zaid Rodgers, CEO of the Righteous Hands Foundation
- Valentina Leonardi
- Maria Saba
- Marco Bussoletti
- Don Carson, LLB, VUW
- Yasmin Omar, International Human Rights Lawyer
- Nazhrin Faisal, Malaysian Bar
- Eren Sozuer, Istanbul University
- Hala Ahed, lawyer, Human rights advocate
- المحامي وسام جباعته، الاردن
- BISHER ALKHATIB
- Jamal Jeet
- Alberto Vasquez Encalada, Mad Thinking
- Katkodia, Movement for a United SA
- Suzanne Elena Ehrlich
- Ata Hindi, Birzeit/Tulane
- Maureen Kelsey
- Dr Mahmoud Elsaafin University UMFST George Emil Palade
- Hernan Bonomo, member of the Disability Justice for Palestine Coalition
- Marina Khaled Salman, Disability Justice for Palestine
- Lenette Pillay – Advocate in South Africa
- Kitty Farrelly, Solicitor, Ireland
- Ioanna Hadjigeorgiou, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
- Pia Singh, University of Auckland
- Rashmi Raman, National University of Singapore