Islamic Relief joins millions for Global Day of Action Calling for #CeasefireNOW

Islamic Relief joins millions for Global Day of Action Calling for #CeasefireNOW

ALEXANDRIA, Va –  Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) has released the following statement:

On Monday 18 December, organisations and individuals from more than 90 countries across the world will mark a Global Day of Action to push for a sustained ceasefire.

The event is organised by humanitarian and human rights NGOs from across the world. In total, more than 3.5 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 now.

Amidst an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a ceasefire is urgently needed to end further loss of life and ensure sufficient aid reaches those in dire need.

Islamic Relief is a part of the Global Day of Action and we are urging our supporters to sign the petitions, contact their political representatives, and use social media and other creative ways to call for a #CeasefireNow.

Shahin Ashraf, head of advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide, says: “Every minute brings more death and suffering for people in Gaza. Civilians are being killed relentlessly, and Israel continues to block vital aid and supplies from reaching starving families. The world must stop this massacre – there must be a ceasefire now.”

Islamic Relief is calling on world leaders and international governments to demand:

• An immediate and lasting ceasefire
• An end to Israel’s siege of Gaza so that humanitarian aid and also commercial supplies can enter Gaza in sufficient quantity.
• An end to the increasing attacks on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Even before 7 October this was already the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank for almost 20 years – and this violence has further increased in recent weeks.
• Respect for international law. Civilians must be protected from harm and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and schools must never be targeted. People must not be denied food, water, medicine or other essentials. Civilian hostages and detained children should be released.
• New and sustained diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting peace where all Palestinians and Israelis can live in safety and dignity and have their fundamental human rights upheld. We believe that this will not be possible until there is an end to the Israeli occupation and the injustice and inequality at the heart of it.

MEDIA CONTACT

Syed M. Hassan
mhassan@irusa.org  or
(571) 421-7032 (CELL)

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Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.