End the aid blockade, stop arms exports!
Osnabrück/Berlin, September 17, 2025 – A broad alliance of non-governmental organizations will present the German Federal Government with 44,255 signatures this afternoon for the petition "For a just peace in Gaza. End the aid blockade, stop arms exports!" The petition was initiated in August 2024 by CARE Germany, IPPNW Germany, medico international, NRC Germany, Oxfam Germany, Pax Christi, German Section, and World Peace Service. It is supported by 34 other organizations, including the children's rights organization Terre des Hommes .
Terre des Hommes Terre des Hommes stated : "Children in the Gaza Strip, in particular, are suffering immeasurably from the consequences of war, displacement, and the blockade." We urgently appeal to the German government to finally take decisive action. An immediate ceasefire, an end to the blockade, and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid are absolutely essential. Now is the moment to consistently protect children's rights and ensure that children no longer fall victim to war and political failures.
At today's handover of the petition to Prof. Dr. Lars Castellucci, the German government's Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Therese Wenzel of the World Peace Service and Angelika Wilmen of IPPNW emphasized that the catastrophic situation for the people in Gaza has deteriorated dramatically since the petition was launched, while the German government continues to support Israel's illegal conduct of war.
The petition demands the following from the German government:
- to advocate more decisively for an immediate ceasefire and to demand the protection of the civilian population;
- to refuse all export licenses for armaments if there is a risk that they will be used in violation of international law;
- Israel should exert significantly more pressure to demand an immediate end to the blockade, which violates international law, and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid;
- to take effective measures to end Israel's illegal settlement construction and acts of violence by settlers;
- in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024, the earliest possible end to the occupation which is contrary to international law;
- to actively support the international judiciary and the United Nations Commission of Inquiry;
- to advocate for the release of all hostages and those unlawfully detained;
- to protect the right to freedom of expression and assembly and to end the criminalization of expressions of opinion protected by the constitution in connection with Palestine/Israel.
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Contact:
Wolf-Christian Ramm, phone +49 541 / 71 01-158 or +49 171 / 672 9748 c.ramm@tdh.de , www.tdh.de