Appeal to world leaders: Stop the suffering and genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza

(Patria) - Last month we marked the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. We remembered the more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were killed in July 1995 in an area declared a "safe zone" by the United Nations in Bosnia, the organisation Remembering Srebrenica UK announced today.

"Their murders represent one of the most serious failures of the international community in recent history. It was not a lack of knowledge that allowed the massacre to happen, but a lack of action.

The tragedy of Bosnia in the 1990s reminds us that it is time to act against the risk of genocide before it happens – not after. Yet, time and time again, world leaders have failed to do so.

In the three decades since the Bosnian war, we have witnessed genocidal acts against the Rohingya people in Myanmar and the Uyghurs in China, while the people of Sudan continue to suffer horrific crimes daily.

As we reflect on these tragedies, we must also confront the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Palestine, despite the International Court of Justice's call for UN member states to act to prevent serious violations of international law, including the risk of genocide in Gaza.

The actions of the State of Israel have led to the massacre of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Entire families have been wiped out. Neighbourhoods have been razed. Hospitals, schools and water supply facilities have been systematically attacked.

The siege of Gaza has escalated into a complete blockade, in which food, water, electricity and humanitarian aid are deliberately withheld, turning daily life into a struggle for survival. This has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis, including widespread malnutrition and the deaths of children from starvation and dehydration.

These outcomes are not accidental. They are the direct result of deliberate political decisions by the Israeli government. This was further confirmed by a recent statement from the Israeli government that their forces would directly occupy the city of Gaza.

This indicates that the current attacks are not merely a means of punishment, but part of a broader strategy of permanent control, in which thousands more Palestinians will be displaced. This is deliberate ethnic cleansing and a war crime.

"Srebrenica's message for our times: Act to stop genocide before it is too late." Our call to governments on the catastrophe unfolding in Palestine today. pic.twitter.com/2CmTBr5Czp

— Remembering Srebrenica (@SrebrenicaUK) August 12, 2025

Israel's abhorrent actions are not confined to Gaza alone. In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians continue to face daily oppression: home demolitions, settler violence, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on movement.

This is a systematic regime of control and dispossession, maintained for years through occupation and complete impunity.

It is important that we uphold consistent moral and legal standards. Our government, like others, has been consistent and unequivocal in its condemnation of the attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and the taking of hostages.

We must not view the suffering of the Palestinian people through a different lens than the suffering of others. International law must be applied impartially. The right to life, dignity, and protection belongs to every human being – without exception.

Too many governments, institutions, and individuals have remained indecisive in the face of undeniable evidence of the catastrophe unfolding in Palestine and have failed to match words of concern with concrete action.

Whether intentional or not, international inaction has allowed the situation to reach an unbearable level of destruction.

As we continue to remember Srebrenica, we must do so with humility. That tragedy was enabled not only by the perpetrators but also by the failure of those who knew and did not act.

It is our responsibility today not only to remember what happened then, but to apply that knowledge now – with consistency, compassion, and moral clarity.

We cannot mourn the victims of Srebrenica without also recognising the parallels with the suffering in Palestine.

We call on the international community to publicly acknowledge and condemn the violations committed by the State of Israel and to take concrete steps to uphold international law, protect civilians, and ensure accountability," stated Remembering Srebrenica UK.