Resolution 2582 (2025)1Provisional version

The absolute and urgent need to end the humanitarian crisis for women, children and the hostages in Gaza

Parliamentary Assembly1. The Parliamentary Assembly has condemned in the strongest possible terms, from the outset, theappalling terrorist attack by Hamas and other militias against Israel on 7 October 2023. It continues to do so.The murders, hostage-taking and all other crimes committed, not least sexual assaults, during this attackconstitute a complete violation of human rights and human dignity, for which the perpetrators must be heldaccountable. The Assembly reiterates its call for the immediate release to their families and homes of allhostages still held in captivity, and calls on Hamas to grant the International Committee of the Red Crossaccess to those hostages without delay. The Assembly welcomes the conclusion of a three-phase ceasefireagreement to suspend military operations in the Gaza Strip and facilitate the exchange of hostages andprisoners. It welcomes the implementation of its first phase, from 19 January 2025, as a crucial and positivestep forward and calls on all parties to respect this commitment so that the three phases are fully implementedand lead to a long-lasting peace.

2. The military campaign launched by Israel in Gaza in response to the attack on 7 October continued for15 months, causing an unimaginable humanitarian crisis. The whole Gaza strip is under control by the Stateof Israel, and especially besieged northern Gaza. During Israel’s military campaign, more than 46 000 peoplehave lost their lives and more than 109 000 civilians have been injured, including large numbers of womenand children, who make up 70% of the victims. The hostages are exposed to the same humanitarian crisis asthe civilians in Gaza, further compounded by their captivity. Many medical and humanitarian workers havedied, including 265 people working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees inthe Near East (UNRWA). A conservative estimate is that 120 000 people have died from ailments anddiseases which could not be properly treated or managed, due to the severe damage to the healthcaresystem in Gaza. Entire sections of the infrastructure of society in Gaza – homes, schools, hospitals andmedical facilities – are now completely destroyed or unable to function. In recent months the conflict hasescalated to other areas, such as Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank where the same pattern and effects ofattacks on civilian areas and humanitarian aid structures can be observed.

3. The Assembly cannot remain silent concerning the fact that women and children are without anyshadow of doubt the main innocent victims of the conflict, as was also apparent in the horrific 7 October attackon Israel. In May 2024, the Gaza Ministry of Health put the number of children killed in this period at 14 100and on 16 September published a list containing the names of 11 000 dead children who were able to beidentified. These figures do not include the many more children who are missing, detained, buried underrubble, separated from their families or without any family, or those who have lost their lives indirectly as aresult of the conflict. At the same time, the entire population of Israel, including children, has been subject tocontinuous, indiscriminate rocket attacks targeting the civilian population. According to United Nations specialrapporteurs, more than 183 women a day are giving birth without pain relief, while hundreds of babies havedied because of the lack of electricity to power incubators.

1. Assembly debate on 28 January 2025 (4th sitting) (see Doc. 16093 and add., report of the Committee on SocialAffairs, Health and Sustainable Development, rapporteur: Ms Saskia Kluit). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28 January2025 (4th sitting).

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