The brutal attacks carried out by Israel on Gaza have turned into one of the darkest chapters in human history, leaving deep wounds in the world’s conscience and causing an unparalleled humanitarian catastrophe. These brutal assaults did not merely violate the right to life of innocent civilians; they also uprooted universal human values and destroyed the fundamental pillars of international law.

The systematic destruction that Israel continues to inflict goes beyond the killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and the forcible displacement of millions. It leaves deep societal scars that will be inherited by future generations, dealing a painful blow to human dignity. In Gaza, residential areas, hospitals, schools, places of worship, and the very spaces of civilian life have not been spared the savage targeting; cities have been reduced to ruins and their historical and cultural heritage lost to the abyss of destruction.

In this shameful chapter of human history, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens with each passing day. Civilians whose basic rights are routinely violated have been deprived of life’s simplest necessities — food, clean water, electricity, medical care, and shelter. The most vulnerable — children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities — have borne the heaviest cost. Thousands of children suffer from hunger, disease, malnutrition, and trauma beyond their bearing, while the wounded are left without basic medical care, fighting merely to survive.

What is happening now is no longer just a regional crisis affecting a particular territory; it is a test of humanity’s conscience and a responsibility that falls upon everyone without exception. In light of the international community’s failure to take effective action and respond adequately, civil society organizations have mobilized. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the necessity of global solidarity to support Gaza and rebuild it, affirming continued support for the people of Gaza. Faced with international silence and inability to provide the required response, civil society organizations deemed it necessary to act. President Erdoğan pointed to the importance of uniting global efforts to support Gaza and its reconstruction, reiterating steadfast support for its people.

In this context, the Gaza Humanitarian Aid Summit held in Istanbul under the auspices of the Turkish Religious Foundation (Vakıf) and Al-Khair Foundation represents a profound call to raise awareness and coordinate global collective action for Gaza. Two hundred humanitarian organizations from 40 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas attended the summit — a broad platform aimed at seeking solutions to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, strengthening coordination among relief initiatives, and issuing an urgent appeal to the international community to act.

The summit was organized to define practical steps civil society can take to confront this crisis, to draft joint action plans, and to propose solutions to open urgent relief corridors. The recommendations presented below are the fruit of this summit and will be submitted to the global community.

Key Recommendations / Required Actions

• Establish a platform for information exchange and aid coordination to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

• Form an advisory committee composed of international and local experts to develop comprehensive, sustainable solutions.

• Work to establish emergency humanitarian corridors into Gaza to deliver urgent assistance to those most in need.

• Expedite the establishment of field hospitals and emergency medical units to provide urgent healthcare to the affected.

• Activate temporary education centers and digital learning platforms to ensure continuity of education in Gaza.

• Rapidly construct safe and temporary shelter areas.

• Launch emergency food assistance programs immediately to provide basic needs to those affected.

• Form international committees to document and investigate war crimes.

• Deploy centers for treating post-traumatic stress and expand mental health services to assist those affected.

• Promote economic recovery models that create job opportunities to support livelihoods amid harsh circumstances.

• Expand coverage and international media attention of Israel’s attacks to raise global awareness and prevent normalization of these crimes.

• Strengthen and sustain effective boycott campaigns as a peaceful means to achieve accountability.

• Launch an international campaign to secure the safety of health personnel in Gaza and to ensure the rapid delivery of life-saving medicines and medical equipment.

• Establish dedicated units for maternal and child health and for the management of chronic diseases to ensure necessary healthcare for those affected.

• Accelerate the reconstruction of destroyed schools to restore safe and stable learning environments for students.

• Support sustainable agriculture and local production projects to bolster the local economy.

• Work with local authorities to prepare long-term development plans that ensure sustainable recovery in the region.

• Enhance social protection mechanisms for deprived groups to ensure social justice.

• Build local production capacity by supporting entrepreneurship to guarantee sustainable development and strengthen the local economy.

• Reinforce international cooperation to meet the needs of the people of Gaza.

At this critical stage of human history, the Gaza Humanitarian Aid Summit issues an urgent call for the international community to act immediately. Remaining silent in the face of this catastrophe will not only deepen current suffering but will also leave wounds that future generations cannot heal. Every step taken today will help build a fairer and more humane world tomorrow.

This statement is not merely a plea for assistance; it is a historic document aimed at restoring humanity’s conscience and the shared values that bind us all. Every member of the international community must shoulder their responsibility to end this humanitarian disaster and begin healing the wounds that have afflicted humanity as a whole. Rebuilding Gaza and restoring normal life is more than an obligation — it is a shared duty for all mankind.

The summit participants express their firm determination to implement the recommendations above and call upon all international actors to take decisive steps under this humanitarian responsibility. This appeal must be responded to immediately to secure a common future for humanity.