Over 20,000 have been killed and over 50,000 wounded in a war that entered its third month on January 7 2024. Every day that passes, more lives are lost in Gaza and the humanitarian catastrophe worsens. More than a third of the casualties of the Israeli state’s aggression, which disregards international law, are children. The ongoing bombardment of Gaza is imposing displacement, dispossession and death on millions.
The Israeli state’s blockade of Gaza, which has been in place for years, has tightened during this war, preventing the entry of goods such as water, food and fuel, and reducing the chances of survival for more than 2 million people. State and settler violence and repression against Palestinians is increasing, not only in Gaza but also in other parts of Palestine.
Anti-war activists and conscientious objectors in Israel also suffer from this violence and oppression. Since the beginning of the bombardment of Gaza, anti-war activists and groups in different cities of Israel have continued to insist on raising the voice of peace, despite the pressures exerted by the military apparatus of the Israeli state. During the past three months, many anti-war activists have been investigated, arrested, and some have had to leave the country. 18-year old Israeli conscientious objector Tal Mitnick refused to be conscripted into the Israeli army and participate in what he calls a “war of revenge” in Gaza. He was sentenced to 30 days in military prison and was imprisoned on 26 December 2023.
This humanitarian crisis deepens every day that there is no ceasefire. We oppose the pro-war talking point that a ceasefire is dangerous and that Israel should have the “right” to continue its invasion in Gaza at any costs until Hamas is eliminated while civilians remain not only unprotected but targeted. We reject such ideas as fundamentally dangerous and we remind that the protection of civilians and restoration of peace must be the absolute priority.
Thus, an immediate ceasefire must be declared by all parties to the conflict in order to put an end to the war crimes in line with the UN Resolution of 12 December 2023; to stop the increasing deaths in Gaza; to ensure that humanitarian aid, water, food and medical aid reach Gaza; and to prevent further human rights violations.
As conscientious objector organizations from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, as we entered a new year, we call for an immediate end to all the destruction of the past 3 months. We know that the only solution for this is to lay down arms, stop the war and start to talk for a political solution.
For the release of the hostages held in Gaza, for the resumption of negotiations, for the end of the Israeli state’s policies of extermination against the Palestinians; we embrace the demands of conscientious objectors fighting against war and militarist policies in Israel. As the Israeli conscientious objector organizations Mesarvot and Refuser Solidarity Network have emphasized since the beginning of the war, we call for a “ceasefire as a first step towards a solution that will guarantee peace, liberty and a decent life”.
Every war in Palestine, in the Middle East and all over the world brings new deaths and destruction. Refuse, resist, say no to war!
You can download the full joint statement released by the Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors, Conscientious Objection Watch and the Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus.
