The Caucus of Development Non-Government Organization Networks (CODE NGO), with its twelve national and regional networks representing more than 1,600 NGOs, people’s organizations, and cooperatives throughout the Philippines, strongly urges all warring parties in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war to commit to an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors that would facilitate the safe passage of much-needed aid to Gaza and other areas.

We are deeply appalled at the extent and depth of destruction to life and property that has transpired in Gaza. As of October 30, the death toll in the said Palestinian exclave has surpassed 8,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza; more than 3,500 of these were children. Israel’s moves to cut off water and electricity supplies to Gaza and block the delivery of aid to Palestinians continues to aggravate the humanitarian crisis in the area.

However, nothing could have justified Hamas’ coordinated attacks of terror on civilians. The said attacks on October 7 killed more than 1,200 Israelis, including children. Over 200 Israeli soldiers and civilians were also taken hostage at the time. 

In view of these atrocities from both sides, we urge all warring parties to abide by International Humanitarian Law to reduce the war’s impact on non-combatants. Civilians should never be considered targets. This principle covers those working in crisis situations, such as doctors, nurses and other medical personnel, journalists, and humanitarian workers. 

Furthermore, a number of Filipinos stand to lose their employment, other than their lives and limbs, in this war. Currently, there are 30,000 overseas Filipino workers in Israel and 150 in Gaza, most of whom work as caregivers, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Migrant Workers. So far, four Filipinos have been killed in the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza. 

In response, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed his support for Israel in a meeting with Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss on October 11. The Philippine would later abstain from a United Nations General Assembly Resolution calling for a humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas.

On the other hand, the Bangsamoro Parliament – the legislative body of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – passed a resolution a week later, “condemning acts of violence and collective punishment against Palestinians and calling for the immediate declaration of an unconditional cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.”

We enjoin the world to exercise sobriety and seek guidance from the examples set by successful peace processes, including our very own Bangsamoro peace process. These peace processes emerged from a broad consensus that armed conflict is mainly rooted in historical injustices. Genuine peace and holistic healing require addressing these injustices through processes that facilitate transitional justice and reconciliation. 

Towards those ends, civil society organizations play a consequential role in prodding State and non-State actors to fully uphold International Humanitarian Law and in promoting rights-based and multi-stakeholder approaches geared towards the effective rehabilitation and restoration of the economic, social, and cultural well-being of conflict-affected communities.