OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The international community marks Human Rights Day today, December 10, 2025, commemorating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme, “Human rights are the foundation of our dignity in everyday life”, comes as Palestinians endure one of the gravest humanitarian crises in modern history.
Amid ongoing violations across the occupied Palestinian territories, human rights organizations say Palestinians are being denied the most basic rights guaranteed under the Universal Declaration, including the rights to life, self-determination, adequate living standards, health, and education. Detainees continue to face severe abuses, including torture and ill-treatment.
Continued attacks despite the ceasefire
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have maintained air, land, and sea operations, striking civilians and civilian property on a wide scale. Field data indicates that IOF now maintains military control over more than 53 percent of the Gaza Strip. Gunfire continues to target residential neighborhoods, displaced-persons camps, and communities inside urban areas.
Human rights sources report that since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli attacks have killed 386 Palestinians and wounded 980 others. IOF also continues to restrict freedom of movement, especially for patients and the wounded. More than 15,000 people require urgent travel for medical treatment abroad as Gaza’s healthcare system collapses, with medicine shortages reaching 55 percent and medical consumables 71 percent.
An unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Severe restrictions on goods entering Gaza have pushed living conditions to catastrophic levels. On average, only 171 trucks are allowed into the enclave daily, far below the pre-genocide level of roughly 600. Essential items such as food, medicine, fuel, and shelter materials continue to be blocked.
Conditions for displaced families are worsening dramatically. Tens of thousands lack adequate shelter, and around 288,000 families face life-threatening risks as winter storms intensify and thousands of makeshift tents flood.
Widespread destruction of infrastructure and Gaza’s education sector
Economic and social conditions continue to deteriorate as IOF destruction targets industrial facilities, farmland, archaeological sites, and tourism infrastructure. Hunger is spreading, with 457 deaths recorded among children, women, and elderly individuals due to starvation and deprivation.
Gaza’s education sector has suffered extensive devastation. Schools, universities, and kindergartens have been destroyed, paralyzing the educational process for the third consecutive year and causing deep, long-term harm to students and researchers.
Rights groups call for urgent international intervention
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights described the situation as a “war of genocide” and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights. The center noted Israel’s continued disregard for the ceasefire understandings and for rulings by the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the UN Security Council, and the UN General Assembly.
The center called on the international community to urgently intervene to halt the genocide, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, allow patients and injured civilians to travel freely for treatment, and facilitate the entry of adequate food and medical aid. It also urged the enforcement of international accountability mechanisms to end Israel’s impunity and prosecute those responsible for crimes against Palestinian civilians.
Al Mezan further urged people worldwide to intensify solidarity efforts and pressure their governments to uphold their moral and legal obligations to stop the genocide and end the occupation.
