Today marks one year since the war on Gaza began — a year of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and siege. This war did not stop at Gaza’s borders; it extended to the West Bank and Lebanon. The relentless bombardment made no distinction between armed and unarmed individuals, fighters and paramedics, adults and children. The Israeli occupation’s war machine has left over 41,000 dead, including 17,000 children, with more than 96,000 injured and 10,000 missing. Nearly 300 aid workers were killed, alongside a thousand healthcare workers. Over 2 million Palestinians are now homeless, deprived of water, food, and medical care, while nearly over a million Lebanese have fled their homes to escape the aerial bombardment.

Despite global condemnations, decisions from the International Criminal Court, and the horrific destruction left in its wake, this war continues. The United Nations estimates that nearly 40 million tons of rubble have been left behind, which will take years to remove — making life in these areas nearly impossible and effectively resulting in ethnic cleansing and forced displacement.

The sheer scale of human suffering caused by the Israeli occupation’s war machine cannot be adequately captured in numbers or words. For the past year, Palestinians — and, more recently, the Lebanese — have endured atrocities that will forever stain humanity’s conscience. War does not only create immediate devastation; it also tears societies apart for generations.

We at ICSSI condemn the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel daily. We call upon the international community, civil society, and all people of conscience to take immediate action to end the war and these atrocities.