Iranian Academics Condemn Gaza Massacre, Call for Global Action

Hawzah News Agency- In their declaration, the professors and researchers stressed that the ongoing Israeli attacks since October 2023 have killed and injured tens of thousands of women and children, destroyed vital infrastructure, and created conditions of famine and medical collapse. They argued that the situation represents not only a humanitarian disaster but also a clear case of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The statement highlighted extensive documentation from UNICEF, the UN Human Rights Office, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders, pointing to evidence of deliberate targeting of civilians, starvation as a weapon of war, and the destruction of hospitals, schools, and other civilian facilities.

Referring to international law, the signatories said Israel’s actions violate several binding treaties, including:

• The Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) and its Additional Protocol I (1977) prohibiting attacks on civilians and starvation as a method of warfare;
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which requires special protection for children in armed conflict;
• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which obliges states to ensure the health and safety of women, particularly in times of crisis;
• The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), which defines deliberate siege, famine, widespread destruction, and genocide as crimes against humanity.

The academics emphasized that these actions are not the result of “tactical mistakes” but part of a “systematic and deliberate policy” made possible by decades of international inaction. They described Gaza as a test of credibility for global institutions and governments that claim to defend human rights.

The statement put forward several urgent demands, including:

1. Immediate cessation of Israeli military operations against civilians and lifting the blockade on Gaza;
2. Opening humanitarian corridors for the delivery of food, water, medicine, and fuel;
3. Establishing an impartial international fact-finding mission to document crimes against women and children;
4. Referring the case of Gaza to the International Criminal Court;
5. Imposing effective sanctions on Israel;
6. Supporting global academic and civil society initiatives to rebuild Gaza’s education and healthcare systems and amplify the voices of victims.

The signatories concluded by calling on academics, researchers, and institutions worldwide to break their silence, join the global demand for justice, and ensure such tragedies are not repeated.