“A Death Sentence” – Aid Agencies Warn of Israel’s Assault on Gaza City

Even before it launched its fresh assault on Gaza City, Israel had killed or injured more than 10 per cent of the Gazan population, by the admission of its own former army commander. Now, a coalition of over 50 civil society organizations, has denounced this latest offensive as “a death sentence” for the people. Signatories to the following statement include Caritas Internationalis, of which Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is a member; Caritas MENA; and Caritas Jerusalem.

Gaza City, 12 September 2025 ― 51 Humanitarian and civil society organizations warn that Israel’s assault on Gaza City amounts to a death sentence.

Intensified Israeli military attacks on Gaza City and forced displacement orders for the entire city are leaving families with an impossible dilemma: flee and risk death on the road and in overcrowded displacement areas, or stay and face relentless bombardment in their shelters. Starvation and siege await them regardless.

“Our only demand is life,” said Ayman (name changed), a father sheltering with his family in Gaza City. “We are humans just like you. We want to live with dignity and safety, not to die from hunger or bombs.”

Nearly one million Palestinians, starved, grieving, and displaced many times over, remain in Gaza City. If Israel’s operation in Gaza City continues, hospitals will be cut off and attacked, shelters and schools bombed, aid convoys blocked, and those too weak, old, or sick to flee will be left to die. “We are tired of running from one place to another,” said Abeer (name changed), a humanitarian worker.

At the same time, Israel is deliberately obstructing humanitarian operations. Aid trucks continue to be denied, and international NGOs are left in limbo by an opaque registration regime, even as famine deepens.

The International Court of Justice has recognized that Palestinians in Gaza have a right to be protected from genocide. Each act of forced displacement and each surge of hunger makes that danger more certain, and the world cannot claim it did not see this coming.

Let our goods enter. Let us work. Stop this assault.

ENDS

Signed by 51 Humanitarian and Civil Society Organizations

1. ActionAid
2. Action For Humanity
3. American Friends Service Committee
4. Anera
5. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz
6. A New Policy
7. Campaign Against Arms Trade
8. Caritas Internationalis
9. Caritas Jerusalem
10. Caritas Middle East & North Africa
11. Christian Aid
12. Churches for Middle East Peace
13. CISS – Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud
14. DanChurchAid
15. Danish Refugee Council
16. Danske Hus i Palæstina
17. Diakonia
18. Embrace the Middle East
19. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
20. HelpAge International
21. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
22. Humanity First UK
23. Insecurity Insight
24. INSO
25. Islamic Relief
26. Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
27. Médecins Du Monde France (MdM France)
28. Médecins du Monde Switzerland (MdM Switzerland)
29. MedGlobal
30. Medico International
31. Médicos del Mundo (Spain)
32. Mennonite Central Committee
33. National Justice and Peace Network England and Wales
34. Norwegian People’s Aid
35. Oxfam
36. Pax Christi Flanders
37. Pax Christi International
38. Pax Christi München
39. Pax Christi Scotland
40. People in Need
41. Plan International
42. Premiere Urgence Internationale
43. Rebuilding Alliance
44. Saferworld
45. Secours Islamique France
46. Solidarités International
47. Terre des Hommes Italy
48. The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
49. United Against Inhumanity
50. Vento di Terra
51. War Child Alliance