“A Death Sentence” – Aid Agencies Warn of Israel’s Assault on Gaza City

19 September 2025

The following is a statement from Caritas Internationalis regarding recent attacks in Gaza:

On 12 September 2025, Caritas Internationalis, together with 44 other humanitarian and civil society organisations, signed a statement warning that Israel’s assault on Gaza City amounts to a death sentence.

Intensified Israeli military attacks on Gaza City and forced displacement orders for the entire city are leaving families with an impossible dilemma: flee and risk death on the road and in overcrowded displacement areas, or stay and face relentless bombardment in their shelters. Starvation and siege await them regardless.

“Our only demand is life. We are humans just like you. We want to live with dignity and safety, not to die from hunger or bombs.”
Ayman (name changed), a father sheltering with his family in Gaza City

Nearly one million Palestinians, starved, grieving, and displaced many times over, remain in Gaza City. If Israel’s operation continues, hospitals will be cut off and attacked, shelters and schools bombed, aid convoys blocked, and those too weak, old, or sick to flee will be left to die.

“We are tired of running from one place to another.”
Abeer (name changed), a humanitarian worker

At the same time, Israel is deliberately obstructing humanitarian operations. Aid trucks continue to be denied, and international NGOs are left in limbo by an opaque registration regime, even as famine deepens.

The International Court of Justice has recognised that Palestinians in Gaza have a right to be protected from genocide. Each act of forced displacement and each surge of hunger makes that danger more certain — and the world cannot claim it did not see this coming.

Let our goods enter. Let us work. Stop this assault.

Signed by 45 Humanitarian and Civil Society Organisations:

1. ActionAid

2. Action For Humanity

3. American Friends Service Committee

4. Anera

5. Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz

6. A New Policy

7. Caritas Internationalis

8. Caritas Jerusalem

9. Christian Aid

10. Churches for Middle East Peace

11. CISS – Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud

12. Danish Refugee Council

13. Danske Hus i Palæstina

14. Embrace the Middle East

15. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

16. HelpAge International

17. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International

18. Humanity First UK

19. Insecurity Insight

20. INSO

21. Islamic Relief

22. Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)

23. Médecins Du Monde France (MdM France )

24. Médecins du Monde Switzerland (MdM Switzerland)

25. MedGlobal

26. Medico International

27. Médicos del Mundo (Spain)

28. Mennonite Central Committee

29. National Justice and Peace Network England and Wales

30. Norwegian People’s Aid

31. Oxfam

32. Pax Christi Flanders

33. Pax Christi München

34. Pax Christi Scotland

35. People in Need

36. Plan International

37. Premiere Urgence Internationale

38. Rebuilding Alliance

39. Saferworld

40. Secours Islamique France

41. Solidarités International

42. Terre des Hommes Italy

43. The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)

44. Vento di Terra

45. War Child Alliance