LONDON: A coalition of humanitarian organizations projected messages of support for Palestine and a demand for a ceasefire in Gaza on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Wednesday evening.
The coalition, which included Action for Humanity, Avaaz, Christian Aid and Medical Aid for Palestinians, projected messages calling for the suspension of arms sales to Israel, calling for an immediate ceasefire and highlighting the more than 40,000 people killed in the conflict.
In a joint statement, the organizations highlighted the toll of 11,355 children among the dead, caused by Israeli military actions in Gaza.
“For over 11 months, humanitarians have been raising the alarm about Israel’s potential violations of international law, including the use of starvation and denial of water as weapons of war, attacks on civilian and so-called ‘safe’ areas, and targeting of aid operations,” the coalition said.
“Already, more than 40,000 people have been killed, 11,355 of whom are children, and hundreds of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained, while 90 percent of Palestinians in Gaza are displaced from their homes, and polio has resurged in Gaza after a quarter of a century, putting the lives of many children at risk,” it added.
They also pointed out Israel’s intensified attacks in Lebanon, which have already claimed nearly 600 lives, including 50 children and two UN staff members.
As member states gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, the coalition also urged countries to facilitate humanitarian aid and the safe release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.
