Global appeal calls for diplomatic humanitarian convoy to halt Gaza famine
Human Rights Watch has reported a unified and urgent appeal from Palestinian civil society and international humanitarian and human rights organizations, demanding immediate action to halt what is described as a deliberate famine unfolding in the Gaza Strip. The groups are calling for the organization of a Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy through the Rafah Crossing to deliver blocked aid supplies.
Since March 2, 2025, humanitarian access to Gaza has reportedly been fully obstructed, marking the longest total siege in the territory’s history. Aid agencies such as UNICEF and OCHA warn that Gaza’s population of over two million is facing a humanitarian catastrophe.
Farmland has been destroyed, access to fishing waters has been cut, and food systems have collapsed. UN agencies report that 92% of children under two, as well as breastfeeding mothers, are suffering from severe malnutrition. Medical supplies and clean water are also scarce.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has confirmed that Gaza’s entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity, with over 500,000 people at immediate risk of starvation. Aid deliveries—including over 3,000 trucks carrying 116,000 metric tonnes of food—are awaiting entry at the Rafah border, but remain blocked.
On April 11, the Palestinian NGO Network declared Gaza to be in an advanced stage of famine, followed by an official designation by the State of Palestine. UN officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres and Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, have called for unhindered humanitarian access and emphasized the legal obligation of states to intervene.
The appeal urges governments to dispatch diplomatic missions to accompany aid trucks, coordinate with Egypt and the United Nations for secure entry, and reject alternative aid distribution systems that bypass established humanitarian agencies. The convoy also invites participation from civil society groups, independent diplomats, and international media to witness and document conditions on the ground.
Organizers stress that the initiative is rooted in international law and humanitarian principles, aiming to break the blockade, stop the famine, and ensure that hunger is not used as a weapon of war. A departure date for the convoy is expected to be announced soon.
