NHRC Chairperson warns of severe deterioration in humanitarian conditions in Gaza, West Bank

Jeddah: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and a member of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Org...

Jeddah: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and a member of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah affirmed that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is experiencing an unprecedented deterioration as a result of the comprehensive siege, acute shortages of food and medicine, and the collapse of essential service systems.

Her Excellency noted that the conditions facing civilians amount to grave violations of international humanitarian law, foremost among them collective punishment and the repeated targeting of civilians and vital civilian infrastructure.

These remarks were made during her participation in three specialized meetings held as part of the 26th regular session of the IPHRC, convened in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Al Attiyah emphasized that the meetings provided an important platform for unifying perspectives within the OIC and for strengthening approaches grounded in international humanitarian law and human rights principles, in a manner that contributes to the protection of civilians, supports the most vulnerable groups, and reinforces international accountability.

She stressed that the continued targeting of health facilities, educational institutions, and sources of water and electricity in Gaza and the West Bank undermines the most basic requirements of a dignified life and necessitates urgent international action to ensure immediate civilian protection and to halt systematic violations. In this context, she underscored the importance of integrating mental health and psychosocial support into the humanitarian response, given the profound psychological impact of the crisis, particularly on children and women.