The Open Society Foundations are profoundly concerned with the escalating violence of the ongoing Hamas-Israel war and urge all to support diplomatic efforts toward a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
We unequivocally condemn the attacks conducted by Hamas on Israeli citizens on October 7 and grieve for the lives lost and injured. The cruelty displayed was heartbreaking and inexcusable and we mourn the loss of innocent civilians.
Israel, as every nation, has a right and a responsibility to defend its citizens. Its current military campaign, however, is becoming increasingly indiscriminate. The deprivation of electricity, water, fuel, and food to the population of the besieged Gaza Strip; the blocking of almost all humanitarian relief efforts; and a bombing campaign that has caused unprecedented casualties is likely to be judged as collective punishment. International humanitarian law must be respected.
Tragedy need not beget further tragedy and add to an already far too long multigenerational cycle of violence and trauma among both Israelis and Palestinians. The international community must redouble efforts to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip, secure the release of all hostages, and work to de-escalate mounting tensions within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the wider Middle East that pose a threat to global stability.
The international consensus on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the principle of national self-determination, is a laudable goal. But, in the last two decades, the international community has hollowed out this consensus, complacently using it as a fig leaf for diplomatic inaction while the situation has festered. This too must change, and recent developments should serve as a wake-up call.
Open Society has long supported efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict, based on our fundamental values of support for human rights and our desire for Israelis and Palestinians alike to live in safety and dignity. However far off it may seem at this moment, a two-state solution remains the only realistic and viable outcome.
The Open Society Foundations have worked in Palestine and Israel since 1999. Our grant giving has focused on supporting Palestinians and Israelis, alongside their respective civil societies, to find a fair and enduring solution that fulfills the aspirations of both to live in freedom and peace. We support a range of partners around the world that are working toward securing the rights of all who live in the region. This has included funding Israeli and Palestinian organizations that research and document violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; that contribute to international policy analysis and discourse; and that advocate for equality and justice for all.
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