We continue to be deeply alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 56,000 people, mostly Palestinian civilians, have perished since the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Compounding the toll of civilian casualties, healthcare workers and systems continue to be targeted and devastated by Israeli forces. PSR and our global IPPNW community call on Israel to uphold international humanitarian law, and pursue an immediate ceasefire and restoration of humanitarian aid to the starving population.

In the longer term, diplomatic approaches to regional conflicts must prevail, including revitalizing ongoing global negotiations to create a weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons) free-zone in the Mideast that would be strengthened by all nations joining and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), as a fundamental step for reducing toward eliminating the global threat posed by nuclear weapons.