The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC), based in London, has submitted an urgent legal and humanitarian briefing to over 1,000 Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom and the European Union, calling for immediate and responsible action to end the deliberate starvation imposed on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip and to hold Israel accountable for its repeated violations of international humanitarian law.

Titled “Starvation in Gaza – Appeal for Humanitarian Action, Diplomatic Accountability, and International Justice”, the briefing outlines how Israeli policies—ranging from a total blockade and the targeting of civilian infrastructure to the obstruction of humanitarian aid—have turned famine into a weapon of war. The briefing asserts that the situation in Gaza is no longer a humanitarian crisis alone, but a man-made famine being systematically used against civilians.

According to the briefing, over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed, with an estimated 10,000 more still buried under the rubble. More than 1,000 civilians have reportedly died while attempting to access food aid, particularly at the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.” The briefing also documents the collapse of Gaza’s agricultural, water, and healthcare systems, leaving the entire population exposed to famine and disease.

The briefing cites a direct warning by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who stated that Israeli attacks have targeted areas housing critical humanitarian infrastructure, including clinics, shelters, community kitchens, and warehouses—putting aid workers and essential facilities at serious risk. Türk also warned that the mass forced displacement of civilians under occupation may constitute unlawful transfer, a war crime under international law, and potentially a crime against humanity.

The briefing further notes that UN experts and independent legal scholars have expressed grave concern that Israel’s actions may amount to crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention.

The PRC called on MPs across the UK and EU to take urgent steps, including demanding an immediate ceasefire, ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access to all parts of Gaza, and restoring the delivery of emergency aid. It also urged the suspension of arms deals, trade agreements, and diplomatic engagement with Israel until it fully complies with international law, and called for continued support for investigations underway at the International Criminal Court.

The briefing concludes by affirming that what is unfolding in Gaza is not a natural disaster, but a deliberate colonial war of elimination in which starvation is being weaponised against a besieged civilian population. The PRC stressed that silence and inaction are no longer acceptable, and that this moment represents a critical test for the international community and the credibility of international law and its institutions.