06 August 2025
His Excellency the Secretary-General
Mr António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Dear Mr Secretary-General
We direct this letter to you out of extreme concern regarding the unfolding humanitarian
catastrophe and escalating famine conditions in Gaza. In its illegal occupation of Gaza, Israel
has enforced an illegal blockade and siege since March 2025. As part of this blockade, it has
maintained control over humanitarian aid and essential supplies into Gaza. Malnutrition,
starvation and disease are causing a rise in hunger-related deaths. Israel is directly culpable,
as it controls the food supply into Gaza, and including implementing a ban on fishing and
effectively ending the ability to farm. As a result, Gazans now depend on external food
supplies for survival. Israeli control over humanitarian aid has resulted in catastrophic levels
of food insecurity. The unlawful collective punishment of civilians through the restrictions on
humanitarian aid and the destruction of food infrastructure constitutes a breach of International
Humanitarian Law (IHL) and amounts to war crimes.
Food insecurity in Gaza has reached the most severe crisis phase of Catastrophe (IPC Phase
5) for 22 % of the population, as per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
The entire territory is now classified under the Emergency phase (IPC Phase 4). The IPC
describes humanitarian aid as fundamental to averting famine conditions. In May 2018, the
UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on conflict-induced food insecurity.
From our vantage, blocking humanitarian access to civilians poses a serious threat to
international peace and security. The scale of destruction, loss of life and the restrictions on
humanitarian aid demand a coordinated international response that highlights the importance
of IHL and introduces enforcement mechanisms applicable to the Israeli war crimes.
For 600+ days, international opinion has coalesced around resistance to the Israeli; and
doubly so in horror and disbelief of live-feeds of malnourished and starving children and
families. This response is shared by the Hague Group which is committed to defending
international law and the rights of the people of Palestine. Recently, 15 countries including
New Zealand and Australia, signed a joint statement expressing a willingness to recognise the
State of Palestine, followed by similar declarations from the United Kingdom and France. The
world has witnessed this genocide, and we demand immediate ceasefire.
The credibility of the UN rests on its ability to uphold international rules and norms that support
human security, peace and justice. Failure to coordinate an international response threatens
the very principles on which the UN was founded. It is imperative that the system be seen to
act impartially and consistently. This includes enforcing consequences on Israel for violating
international human rights laws. We support your call for a renewed global commitment to the
Responsibility to Protect, whereby if a state fails to protect its citizens, the international
community must act, and swiftly.
The Asia Pacific Greens Federation urges the UN Secretary-General to:
1. Call on the international community to introduce enforcement mechanisms regarding
Israel’s unlawful blockade of humanitarian aid, including Israel’s control over the
deliberately inadequate supply of shelter, food, water, medical supplies and fuel into
Gaza.
2. Take concrete steps to pursue accountability for unlawful and inhumane war crimes
related to the famine in Gaza, and the genocide in Palestine.
3. Call on the international community to support measures that free Palestinians from
Israeli occupation, including peaceful negotiations that provide the foundations for the
recognition of the State of Palestine .
4. Support the Special Rapporteur and strengthen the impact of her report which
describes the transition in Gaza from an economy of occupation, to an economy of
genocide, enforced by Israel.
5. Call on complicit governments to stop the arms trade and arms transfers including
parts and components, knowing these are used in attacks against the civilian
Palestinian Peoples. The Australian Greens have consistently called for an immediate
end to all military exports to Israel.
6. Pressure Israel to stop the bombings and the killings of the Palestinians and to cease
fire immediately, it is morally reprehensible that it has been 600+ days of constant
horrendous violence meted upon a defenceless Peoples.
Food crises are child protection crises. Famine disproportionately affects the health and
survival of children, especially those under the age of five. We look to the UN for decisive
leadership to coordinate international efforts to pressure Israel to end its illegal blockade in
Gaza, and to cease fire immediately. We implore the United Nations to mobilise all available
resources and diplomatic channels to ensure the safe and urgent delivery of food, water and
medical supplies to the Peoples of Palestine. We must not allow this situation be remembered
as another genocidal catastrophe noted for the international community’s failure to act.
Yours Faithfully
APGF Secretariat
The Asia Pacific Greens Federation
Political Activities Group
Asia & Pacific & Middle East Greens Parties
Green Party of Palestine; Green Party of Lebanon; Green Party of Iraq; Jordan Nature Party; Green Party of
Aotearoa New Zealand; Australian Greens; Bangladesh Green Party; India Greens Party; Uttarakhand
Parivartan Party India; Parti Hijau Indonesia/Saraket Hijau Indonesia; Midori no Mirai/Greens Japan; Green
Party of Mongolia; Nepali Greens; Pakistan Greens; Green Party of Korea; Green Party of Taiwan; Greens Party
of Papua New Guinea; Green Party of Solomon Islands; Green Party of the Philippines; Indonesia Partai Hijau;
Atjeh Green Party Indonesia; & APGF Womens’ Network; Asia Pacific Young Peoples Network; Pacific Partners;
Indigenous Network (APGF Branch); APGF Executive; APGF Directors; & APGF Secretariat.