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Amnesty International Statement on Gaza:

Following the recent and ongoing events taking place in Gaza, Amnesty International stands in solidarity with Palestine and condemns the unlawful attacks by the state of Israel, which have caused mass civilian casualties. These attacks were carried out in response to Hamas’ attacks on October 7th; according to the Israeli Ministry of Health, the attack by Hamas killed more than 1400 Israeli civilians. Since then, Israeli forces have been relentlessly bombing Gaza. As a result of these air bombardments, more than 4000 Palestinians have been killed, including 1500 children. Approximately 12,500 people have been injured and more than 1,000 bodies are still trapped beneath the rubble. 

Amnesty International condemns these violations of international humanitarian law; Israeli attacks did not distinguish between military and civilian targets, failed to take feasible precautions to spare civilians, and carried out attacks that may have been targeted against civilian objects. This is a form of collective punishment, which constitutes a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention. (https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.33_GC-IV-EN.pdf)

The impact of these attacks are unprecedented, bringing unimaginable suffering to people who are facing a dire humanitarian crisis under Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza. Gaza’s healthcare system is already close to ruin, and its economy is suffering. Hospitals are collapsing, unable to cope with the number of wounded people and desperately lacking in medication and equipment (https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/damning-evidence-of-war-crimes-as-israeli-attacks-wipe-out-entire-families-in-gaza/). The siege is a violation of international law and a key aspect of the Israeli apartheid system. 

According to the Apartheid Convention, the Rome Statute and customary international law, the crime against humanity of apartheid is committed when any inhuman or inhumane act is perpetrated within the context of an “institutionalized regime of systemic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group”, with the “intention of maintaining that regime” (https://legal.un.org/icc/statute/99_corr/cstatute.htm; https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid). Through territorial fragmentation, dispossession of land and property, segregation and control, and the denial of economic and social rights, the state of Israel utilizes a system of apartheid to oppress and dominate Palestinians (https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/5141/2022/en/). 

Amnesty International does not condone violence and the unlawful killing of innocent civilians on either side. Israel is an apartheid state and must be held to account for its war crimes and human rights violations.

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Welcome to the home of LSESU Amnesty International Society!

Our mission is to campaign and raise awareness for the protection of human rights – at local, regional, and global levels – for the most vulnerable populations in society today. We celebrate the intersectional diversity of those in our university community and encourage the sharing of experiences and reflections among our members. We highlight human rights violations across the world through a double-pronged approach of “awareness” followed by “action”. 

We work closely with the LSE, the Student Union, various charities, sponsor firms, and other societies – both, at the LSE and at other universities – to provide an enriching and meaningful experience for our members. 

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This year we are introducing a fundraising goal of £250, with all money donated to Amnesty International! This will help their research teams expose hidden human rights abuses and fund vital campaigns so that we can challenge those in power. We want to spend more time raising awareness and money to directly help more vulnerable people. The goal has been created so we can hold ourselves accountable and everybody can follow along our journey! We will share our journey below throughout the year!

Upcoming Amnesty International UK events: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/events

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