Scientists from across the globe, among which many across Europe and Israel, have issued a public statement sounding the alarm over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The “Statement by Scientists on the Situation in Gaza,” first published on August 21, 2025, urges immediate international action and calls on the Government of Israel, as well as global institutions and governments, to act urgently to prevent further catastrophe.
The signatories express deep concern about the artificial shortage of food in Gaza that risks creating conditions of famine. They warn that medical facilities have been denied access, damaged, or destroyed, while civil infrastructure, including universities, has either collapsed or is on the brink of collapse. The statement also highlights that children are being denied even the most basic educational opportunities, framing the crisis as not only immediate but generational in its consequences.
While the scientists place responsibility on Israel for the current situation, they also acknowledge Hamas’ October 2023 attack, stressing that the release of hostages held by Hamas remains urgent. However, the authors emphasize that no prior act of violence can justify ongoing harm to civilian populations. They demand immediate steps from all relevant actors to halt a preventable disaster.
The signatories represent a wide range of institutions and nationalities, including prominent figures in the scientific community. Among them are Edward Witten of the Institute for Advanced Study in the United States, Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi of Italy, and Jean-Bernard Zuber of France.
The statement has been endorsed by more than 4630 scientists from 81 countries and was delivered to the United Nations Secretary-General, to the Prime Minister and President of Israel, and to the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations. More than 60% of the signatories come from Europe.
The first round of signatures closed on September 4, 2025, but the organizers have kept the petition open to new supporters.
A statement by scientists on the situation in Gaza
We, the undersigned, are scientists from around the world writing in our personal capacity as deeply concerned citizens. We are deeply distressed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We find it unbearable that an artificial shortage of food appears to be leading to a famine-like situation. We are shocked by the enforced denial of medical facilities, the absence of even a modicum of education for children, the systematic annihilation of civil infrastructure (including universities), and the apparent general disregard for the rights, well-being, and life of the civilian population of Gaza.
We call upon the Government of Israel to act immediately to end this human-made humanitarian crisis.
We are aware that the current situation is part of a complicated causal web of events. This web includes the brutal attack by Hamas (in October 2023). We condemn this attack and the inhuman conditions under which the hostages are held, and call upon Hamas to immediately release the hostages in its custody. The web of events also include other egregious actions, including the extinguishing of several tens of thousands of innocent lives in Gaza (including, reportedly, almost a thousand infants below the age of one) which we also condemn.
We strongly feel, however, that nothing in this historical record - indeed nothing at all - can justify the horrors currently being visited on a civilian population. The humanitarian emergency demands immediate intervention. As scientists working collectively for humanity, we urgently call upon all governments, and all relevant international institutions around the world, to exert all available means, so there is a halt to this tragedy.
You can read the statement here. List of signatories here (pdf)
Image: Jaber Jehad Badwan, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence
