In response to these tragic numbers, as well as the thousands of people – many of which are children – killed in the cross-fire, the five Maltese organisations are urging the EP for an immediate ceasefire.

The letter was sent in the context of a key debate that occurred today at 9am at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

It must be noted that the first truce has been agreed: Israel and Hamas have agreed to a temporary pause in the war that will enable the return of 50 hostages and last just four days.

The Israeli cabinet backed the agreement after talks on a Qatar-mediated deal that continued into the early hours of this morning.

“We are deeply disturbed by the indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians in Gaza, including journalists, and we are urging you to call for a ceasefire by all parties involved. The ever-worsening humanitarian and human rights catastrophe unfolding in Gaza urgently needs to be redressed,” the letter reads.

“More than 13,000 people have been killed in Gaza by the IDF since the shocking attacks on civilians in Israel on 7 October, by Hamas, which left some 1,200 dead. Of the dead in Gaza, more than 5,500 are children.”

“Moreover, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of 21 November, at least 53 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead – 10 in the last four days alone, 11 journalists were reported injured, three journalists were reported missing, 18 journalists were reported arrested and media headquarters have been illegally destroyed.

“The US call for a more targeted campaign of bombing has failed to stop indiscriminate killing. No one and nowhere in Gaza is safe. The bombing of schools, hospitals, and refugee camps and the killing of innocent civilians continues at a rate unknown in recent history. The death rate among journalists is four times the rest of the population. This implies that journalists are being targeted for extrajudicial killing, which is a war crime.”

“Humanitarian aid is not enough. As Josep Borrell said in Manama on 18 November, ‘It does not make any sense to give me dinner tonight, if you are going to kill me tomorrow.’ Journalists and other civilians in Gaza need protection which they can get only through a ceasefire agreement that guarantees their safety, regardless of their nationality and wherever they normally live.”

“We strongly urge the European Parliament to take a strong and united stand against the indiscriminate slaughter in Gaza, advocating for a ceasefire and a comprehensive resolution to the conflict to stop the killing of journalists and other innocent civilians.”

“We trust in your commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of all civilians affected by this conflict, including journalists.”

The undersigned organisations are SOS Malta, Aditus Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Jesuit Refugee Service Malta, and The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation.

Do you think that more needs to be done in the international community to save civilians in Gaza?