Activist takes petition to UN headquarters in New York calling for ceasefire and a halt to arms sales to Israel world’s failure to protect civilians
Syrian-Lebanese activist Sarah Hunaidi, today, took the demand of thousands of people from around the world to the UN headquarters in New York, calling on the UN General Assembly to act to ensure a ceasefire for Lebanon and Palestine and to halt arms to Israel.
“I am here today, standing in front of the UN headquarters in New York, to demand every UN member state lives up to their responsibilities and takes real actions to secure an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and Lebanon. There must also be an immediate halt to arm sales to Israel,” said Sarah.
“More than a thousand people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes in just one week, and over one million have been forced from their homes. Among them are tens of thousands of Syrian refugees who are at risk of attacks and forced return to Syria where they can face arrest and torture by the Assad regime.
Time is running out but it’s not too late to save lives and restore our joint sense of humanity. Impunity for war crimes will only embolden all tyrants to commit more crimes. World leaders cannot again fail civilians in the region. They must step up and lead meaningful actions and real accountability for war crimes. We need to see this now!”
The petition was launched by the Syria Campaign on Friday and received more than 4,000 signatures so far from citizens around the world.
They are demanding that the UN declares a ceasefire in Lebanon and Palestine and ends arms sales to Israel – to protect all civilian lives, including 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Laila Kiki, Executive Director of The Syria Campaign said: “Everyone needs protection right now, and we must join together to demand it. If international law is not upheld, we all suffer the consequences. Today civilians are scared of the bombs destroying homes and shelters in Lebanon and Syrian refugees are left with nowhere safe to flee to. There is a powerful movement of people from around the world who are joining together to say the protection of civilians must be upheld. UNGA can and must respond to their calls.”
To speak with experts and those impacted by the attacks and displacement: [email protected]
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Photo: The Syria Campaign / Luigi Morris