World YMCA statement on the crisis in Gaza
28 maj 2025
A call for ceasefire and the protection of human dignity
The World YMCA is deeply troubled by the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where the loss of life and the scale of human suffering have reached unbearable levels.
As a global movement rooted in the belief that every person has the right to live in peace, safety, and dignity, we cannot remain silent. This moment is a test of humanity, and history will judge how we respond.
Since March, the people of Gaza have been besieged—cut off from food, fuel, and medicine. Men, women, and children are starving. The horror of this 21st-Century famine lies in its origin: it is entirely man-made.
Gaza is enduring more than just a humanitarian crisis: the crisis is existential
We join the call for:
- an immediate and sustained ceasefire
- the protection of all civilians, especially children and vulnerable populations
- the unconditional adherence to international humanitarian law
- unhindered access to humanitarian aid and essential services
We also call for the safe and humane release of all hostages and detainees, for the upholding of justice, compassion, and human dignity for all, and for the negotiation of a lasting peace with justice at its core.
”Though YMCA Gaza has been destroyed and its staff displaced, YMCAs around the world stand in solidarity with their counterparts in East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Egypt, who continue to run critical humanitarian and development programmes in the region. We are ready to mobilize further support, if called upon, to help prevent total catastrophe.”
We urge the global community to act now—to stop the bloodshed, to protect life, to secure a just peace – and to choose humanity.
World YMCA, Geneva
