Food Cannot Be a Weapon of War

Statement on the siege of Gaza

The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) unequivocally condemns the heinous and indiscriminate attacks that have terrorized civilians – both Israelis and Palestinians – in the ongoing war in Israel and Gaza. Further, we condemn the catastrophic situation now unfolding in Gaza, in which food is illegally being denied to civilian populations. Under no circumstance can it be justified to use food as a weapon of war.

Now entering its third week, Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip is depriving essential food, fuel, water, electricity and medicine to 2.2 million Palestinian people, nearly half of whom are children. While the recent opening of a humanitarian corridor in Rafah will start to bring much needed aid to the region, the initial provisions are only a fraction of what is needed. Moreover, the continued air strikes prevent safe access to even these provisions by civilians.

The denial of access to food and water is a violation of international humanitarian law relating to the protection of civilians in times of war, including the Geneva Conventions and their protocols.