Gaza and Israel: Frequently asked questions

Day after day we have watched the horrors in Gaza unfold as red line after red line is crossed by the Israeli government.

We can't keep watching as Palestinian people are dehumanised. As children are killed. As people seeking food, water or safety are met with violence. What we’re witnessing is the systematic destruction of a people’s ability to live, to hope, to exist.

Red Line for Gaza is a campaign inspired by symbolic ‘red line’ protests around the world. The UK campaign is coordinated by Oxfam GB, War Child UK and many others – it’s about using our collective voices to call for an end to the UK government’s complicity.

Find out more about the campaign here.

A red line is a limit that should never be crossed. In the case of the Red Line for Gaza campaign, it means breaches of international law.

Using starvation as a weapon of war, killing civilians seeking safety, killing children and the hungry, targeting medics and care givers. These, and many more, are red lines the Israeli government continues to cross.

Oxfam exists to prevent and relieve poverty, to offer humanitarian support to people facing extreme vulnerability, and to advocate for their rights. It’s Oxfam’s job to speak out when people are made vulnerable to killing and starvation – and that’s the case for people in Gaza right now.

This means joining together and recognising our common humanity. We all deserve to have access to our basic human rights. Our collective wellbeing and humanity lies in our ability to support each other, speak out against the injustices we see, and work towards a fairer world for us all.

Our hope is for all Palestinians and Israelis to live in freedom, with full and equal civil and political rights.

The UK government is complicit in enabling the Israeli government’s war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and genocide – by its continued military, economic and diplomatic support. Strong words, without meaningful action, are not enough.

The UK continues to allow arms sales to Israel, including parts for deadly fighter jets that are used to drop bombs on Palestinian civilians. The UK also produces components for Israeli drones, provides military intelligence from spy flights over Gaza, and trains Israeli military personnel in Britain. Additionally, the government continues to trade with Israel preferentially as if nothing is wrong. This complicity must stop.

Find out more about UK arms sales to Israel here.

Under the Genocide Convention, states have a legal obligation to prevent and stop genocide. What’s needed now is not more words, but real action.

The UK government should be using its influence, through every diplomatic and political lever available, to press for change with real consequences for the Israeli government.

That must include an immediate halt to all arms sales, urgent pressure for a permanent ceasefire, and unconditional, safe humanitarian access so aid can reach people in desperate need. They must also continue to push for the hostages to be safely released, as well as illegally detained Palestinian civilians held in Israel.

True justice and lasting peace will not be possible without addressing the root cause of this conflict – the ongoing illegal occupation and oppression of Palestinians.

Oxfam refers to the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza as genocide following a rigorous legal assessment and consultation with experts, grounded in the UN Genocide Convention.

This determination is based on:

• Mounting evidence, including patterns of conduct and public statements indicating intent
• Reports from numerous organisations, including Amnesty International and the UN Special Committee
• First-hand accounts of atrocities witnessed by Oxfam’s partners on the ground
• Evidence submitted to the International Court of Justice 

All the above points to deliberate acts aimed at destroying the civilian population in Gaza and rendering the area uninhabitable. As a humanitarian organisation, Oxfam has a responsibility to speak out to help protect civilians and prevent further atrocities and genocidal acts.

The Israeli government is blocking all but a trickle of life-saving aid into Gaza. People are struggling to access basics like food, water, medicine and shelter.

Even in the face of unimaginable suffering and relentless bombardment, Oxfam and our partners continue to make a difference in the lives of Palestinians in Gaza. Together, we are doing all we can to provide life-saving support amid a near-total blockade.

Although our operations are currently severely restricted, our warehouses are stocked with vital supplies and we are ready to scale up our response as soon as more aid is allowed in.

Find out more about our response here.

Our decision to respond in any crisis is always driven by humanitarian need alone. The Israeli government and local and national organisations currently have the capacity to meet needs in Israel. Oxfam’s appeal is therefore focused on providing help in Gaza.

Oxfam is an impartial organisation with rigorous controls in place to ensure assistance we provide gets to the people who need it most. We have no links to Hamas. Hamas does not control, direct or influence our work, and no Oxfam funding goes to Hamas. Oxfam either works directly or via trusted partner organisations, which are carefully vetted.

Oxfam unequivocally condemns the appalling attacks and the taking of hostages by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups on 7 October.

All diplomatic efforts must be made to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in Gaza, as well as the release of all illegally detained Palestinian civilians in Israel.

Oxfam condemns reports of abuse and sexual violence of Israeli civilians and foreign nationals on 7 October, by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups.

Abuse of civilians, detainees and combatants is a violation, both morally and in the eyes of international humanitarian and human rights law. There must be full independent investigations of all allegations and perpetrators must be held to account.

Oxfam condemns reports of sexual violence and torture of Palestinian prisoners, including thousands of illegally detained civilians, by Israeli forces.

Abuse of civilians, detainees and combatants are violations, both morally and in the eyes of international humanitarian and human rights law. There must be full independent investigations of all allegations and perpetrators must be held to account.

There is no military solution possible to the conflict.

This attempt by Israel to destroy Hamas militarily is coming at an overwhelming cost of civilian death, injury and destruction, including thousands of children. Israel’s military aggression is in no way proportionate to the 7 October attacks by Hamas.

True justice and lasting peace will not be possible without addressing the root cause of this conflict – Israel’s ongoing oppression of Palestinians. There must be an end to the blockade of Gaza, and to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.

Our hope is for all Palestinians and Israelis to live in freedom, with full and equal civil and political rights.