In a stark address, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, Ambassador of the Embassy of the State of Palestine, has called for urgent international action to end the ongoing violence in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Highlighting the devastating human toll, Ambassador Abu Shawesh warned that continued inaction risks exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and undermining prospects for peace.
“It is not enough to issue empty condemnations. The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long,” the ambassador said, quoting Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his statement.
Over the past 405 days, violence in Gaza has claimed the lives of 43,603 Palestinians, with 102,929 injured—most of them women and children. Among the casualties are 188 journalists. The ambassador stressed that these figures are likely underestimates, as many remain buried beneath rubble due to continued airstrikes. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, 811 Palestinians have been killed and 5,755 injured as of November 9. More than 13,500 military checkpoints have been set up, restricting movement and access for residents.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh highlighted a grim picture of mass detentions, reporting that 11,600 Palestinians—including 430 women, 760 children, and 132 journalists—have been detained in the West Bank. He detailed allegations of beatings, property destruction, and theft during arrests, with over 10,000 detainees held under administrative orders without trial. Additionally, over 5,000 detainees from Gaza remain unaccounted for.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. The ambassador accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, noting that only 30 aid trucks are permitted to enter northern Gaza daily, meeting just 6% of the region’s needs. “The people who are still in North Gaza are living under an immobilizing siege, are being deliberately and continuously bombed, and are without food, water, and medical supplies,” he said. Attempts to flee in search of necessities have reportedly been met with lethal drone attacks.
Prisoners in Israeli facilities, particularly those from Gaza, face severe mistreatment, including medical neglect and torture. Outbreaks of diseases such as scabies are worsening the situation, with 41 detainees reportedly killed due to ill-treatment.
The ambassador also warned of Israel’s plans to extend sovereignty over the West Bank, which he described as a looming threat to the two-state solution and a potential “final nail in the coffin” of the peace process. He suggested that Israeli leaders anticipate support for this move from the next U.S. administration.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh echoed calls from international voices, including Acting UN Under-Secretary-General Joyce Msuya, for diplomatic and economic pressure to ensure compliance with international law. “Now is the time for Member States to use their leverage to prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law,” he said.
The ambassador’s statement adds to mounting international pressure for an end to the violence and a recommitment to peace negotiations.