The UIA calls for an urgent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
 
The International Union of Architects (UIA) calls for an urgent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and strongly condemns the ongoing conflict that has caused an unprecedented number of civilian casualties. Many of those killed and injured are children and women.
Standing with 3.5 million architects from 115 countries, the UIA expresses solidarity with all those suffering from the conflict. It joins the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations expressing grave concern at the catastrophic situation.
The UIA Council, following its meeting on 7-8 November in Paris, France, adopted a motion reinforcing the Union’s commitment to the UIA preamble, condemning the targeting of civilian population in wars, deploring the urban and environmental destruction with appalling consequences on civilian populations, and pledging to assist them in the reconstruction and restoration of residential and public facilities.
As a professional organisation, the UIA is deeply concerned by the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of people’s homes, schools, hospitals and vital infrastructures. The International Union of Architects is committed to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights as well as to respect human dignity and architectural heritage.
The architectural community is fighting for a cleaner and better planet. We are distressed that the war is doing the opposite. Conflicts cannot be solved by war. The UIA issues an urgent call for a peaceful solution of the conflict, an urgent ceasefire to prevent further loss of innocent lives and immediate facilitation of humanitarian efforts by ensuring safe humanitarian passages and medical supplies for the population in need.
 
 
Palestine, November 6th, 2023
Regina Gonthier
UIA President
International Union of Architects
Subject: Request for the UIA Council to Take Action Regarding
Israel Violation of the UIA Preambles
 
Dear President Regina,
Dear UIA council members,
 
We, the Association of Architects in Palestine, write to you to ask the UIA council to urgently
speak out and take a position against the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip.
For the past thirty days, Israeli airstrikes have caused an unprecedented number of civilian
casualties, leading to the loss of over 10,000 lives, two thirds of them children and women, and leaving more than 23,500 civilians injured. This unrelenting violence has also targeted civilian
infrastructure, hospitals, schools and universities, churches, mosques, whole neighborhoods and cultural heritage sites. The situation is exacerbated by a blockade and a cut off water supply, electricity, fuel and internet from all of Gaza, further deepening the humanitarian crisis to an unprecedented level which is humanely intolerable.
Of even greater concern, Gaza has had a total electricity blackout since October 11, which has pushed essential health, water, and sanitation services to collapse and intensified the issue of food insecurity.
Forced mass displacement continues to escalate with the total number of internally displaced
persons in the Gaza Strip has now exceeded half a million till now.
Alarmingly, over two-thirds of the population are seeking refuge in hospitals, churches, mosques, and UNRWA schools, which have been lately heavily targeted by Israeli air strikes and bombardment causing unprecedented numbers of casualties and destruction.
These shelters have been shelled with internationally banned white phosphorus bombs, killing
thousands of people who took refuge there seeking safety. Not to mention bombing convoys
heading to the South of Gaza after evacuating them from their homes in the North, and bombing ambulances carrying wounded people.
Furthermore, reports suggest that “Israel” is considering evacuating the civilian population to
Egypt, a move that represents the ethnic cleansing and racist plans and actions committed by the occupier. Not to mention the statements by the Israeli Minister of Heritage regarding dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza – wiping out the population, the area and sarcastically all existing Heritage.
These horrible actions constitute not only a gross violation of all international humanitarian laws and charters, but also amount to an unspeakable series of war crimes including the capital crime of Genocide – and that coming from the people who rightfully decry the horrors of Genocide.
We, the Association of Architects in Palestine, are aware that the UIA is keen to advancing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a particular emphasis on Goal 11: Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. What is happening in Gaza is exactly the opposite, which puts a heavy ethical responsibility on the UIA to take a position denouncing the relentless wanton “tabula rasa“ destruction of the Gaza strip, and the purposeful choice offered
to the Gazans of either annihilation or the forceful displacement of the entire Population of Gaza (the largest open air concentration camp in the world) into the Sinai desert depriving them basic means of living and uprooting them from their habitat; this is another means of committing Genocide.
Moreover, 85% of the General Assembly held in Copenhagen in July 2023 pledged that “all UIA Sections reaffirm their commitment to the UIA preamble including the 1985 Cairo and 2022 Madrid addendums” and recommended to issue a code of ethics and conduct so that violators are held accountable and penalties are taken against them.
In the light of all the above, we Palestinians are subjected to Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing by the expansionist Zionist colonialism; and in reference to the UIA Preambles, Articles and Bylaws, and for the sake of humanity, we call upon you to take a clear position on the practices carried out by Israel against the Palestinian people, which amount to war crimes.
 
Based on:
UIA PREAMBLE ADOPTED IN LAUSANNE. 1948 which states:
“They shall thereby be in a position to participate more effectively in the improvement of
man's living conditions by the reconstruction of devastated cities and villages, the elimination
of slums, the advancement of less developed regions, and the raising of housing standards by making their contribution to a better understanding between men and peoples by continually striving for the fulfilment of their aspirations for material and spiritual well-being; in
collaboration with the other professional and cultural international organisations, they are
resolved to contribute to the progress of human society and to the strengthening of peace”.
and ADDENDUM TO THE PREAMBLE, ADOPTED IN CAIRO, 1985 which states:
"The Preamble can have meaning only in a world with peace among nations. The greatest
obligation of governments in relation to humanity is the preservation of peace as the basis for
realizing the needs and ambitions of people throughout the world. Governments should stop
production for war and use their resources for improvement of conditions for all humanity”.
And ADDENDUM TO THE PREAMBLE, ADOPTED IN MADRID, 2022
“Within its responsibilities and scope of action (as an UN-recognized NGO), the UIA shall
advocate for human dignity and the eradication of all forms of violence, discrimination, and
inequity, and promote environmental and climate conditions that allow life in ecosystem balance and the well- being of humanity”.
Accordingly, and based on the evidence available of Israel breaking all the above rules and
bylaws, we ask the UIA to:
· Consider expelling Israel from the UIA, revoking its membership from the International
Union of Architects for violating the UIA’s principles and preamble.
· Issue an urgent call for a prompt ceasefire to prevent further loss of innocent lives, and
Immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe passage of
essential humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and personnel to address the dire
humanitarian situation in Gaza.
It is necessary to unite on common professional and humanitarian goals and values, motivate our best forces and work together for more solidary to achieve an equitable, inclusive and peaceful world.
 
Sincerely yours,
Nadia Habash
The Association of Architects in Palestine
 
 
Paris, 17 November 2023
Nadia Habash
President of the Association of Architects in Palestine (AAP)
AL-BIREH
Palestine
RE: Request for the UIA to take action faced with the conflict in the Gaza Strip
 
Dear President, dear Nadia Habash,
 
Your recent letter informing the UIA Council of the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as a result of the current conflict was forwarded to all Council members. The details you provide of the consequences of the current situation on civilian lives and urban tissue are horrifying to read, and I would like to express my deepest concern to you and to all members of the Association of Architects in Palestine, as well as to the civilian population.
Council was informed of your requests before a tabled discussion was held on the matter at the 157th Council meeting in Paris, France last week. During this discussion, both were given due consideration.
Since the UIA preamble adopted in Lausanne in 1948 stipulates that the organisation was founded to unite architects across political, economic and aesthetic frontiers, Council considered your request to expel the Israel Association of United Architects to be incompatible with the aims and principles of the Union. Member Sections are professional organisations of architects that cannot be held responsible for the actions of their governments.
Council nonetheless agreed that the second request made in your letter adheres to the philosophy of the UIA. A motion to pledge the UIA’s commitment to the fundamental right of all citizens to live in a space offering them health, well-being and safety, to condemn the destruction of war, to promote peace and to work towards the reconstruction of both the built environment and social cohesion was subsequently raised and adopted by Council. We deplore civilian loss of life and the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals and vital infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Please find attached with this letter the text of the approved motion. The UIA has also prepared a communiqué condemning the terrible consequences of the ongoing conflict and issuing an urgent call for a prompt ceasefire and the immediate facilitation of humanitarian aid in response to your letter; it was published today.
As the President of the UIA, I express my deep sympathy to the families of the innocent victims and wish you and the Association of Architects in Palestine much strength and courage as you navigate the damage caused by this conflict. The UIA remains at your disposal to explore any professional support needed to help you. Kindly note that we collaborate with an NGO specialised in such matters, the Emergency Architects Foundation.
 
Kind regards,
Regina Gonthier
President
 
ISRAEL ASSOCIATION OF UNITED ARCHITECTS 
15 Migdalor St. Old Jaffa 68036, P.o.Box 8201 Jaffa 61082 
November 20, 2023
 
The UIA President of the Council
 
The Israel Association of United Architects has read the UIA political press release addressing the humanitarian issues of our region. We are all devastated and concerned by the loss of innocent lives since the pogrom of 7th October 2023, where 1400 persons - men, women, and children were murdered in their homes – burned and mutilated.
On the morning of the attack, we lost a dear member of our Association - Architect Yoram Bar Sinai - who spent his career creating communal spaces all over the world- from China to Africa, and specifically in Israel and in his Kibbutz - Be’eri- where he designed the communal paper factory that funded all of its habitants in its peaceful community.
Yoram was murdered in his home at Be’eri – trying to defend his granddaughters. We hope Yoram’s peace-seeking legacy and story will be a reminder of the hope of the good in our profession and our place as human beings.
While there are many who seek to destroy, we seek to build back better. With the stated aim of the UIA to unify the profession, influence policies shaping buildings and communities, and advance society through architecture and urban design; we propose that the UIA support a dialogue of architects in the region for the reconstruction and restoration in Israel and Gaza to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.
We hope the UIA will carry our message,
Orna Angel, Architect
President of the Israel Association of United Architects
 
 
Paris, 23 November 2023
Orna Angel, President
Israel Association of United Architects
15 Hamigdalor St.
Jaffa, 61082
Israel
RE: Response to your letter dated 20 November 2023
 
Dear President Orna Angel
 
Thank you for taking the time to send a response to the press release sent by the UIA last week faced with the devastation and destruction resulting from the current conflict in and around the Gaza Strip. Your letter will be shared with all members of the UIA Council.
It is with deep sadness that we hear of the death of Architect Yoram Bar Sinai during the attack of 7 October. On behalf of the UIA, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Israel Association of United Architects, to Yoram Bar Sina’s family and to all those who knew him. We mourn his passing with you and hope his legacy of peace and community building through architecture will be upheld in his memory.
The Israel Association of United Architects’ commitment to the principles of the UIA is much appreciated amid this conflict, and we are glad to hear of your continued resolve to build and advance a peaceful society through architecture and design. As we deplore the loss of innocent lives and the damage to local communities and infrastructure, we reaffirm our commitment to the UIA Preamble and to our common values. In this light, we welcome your proposal to support a dialogue between architects in the region on the reconstruction and restoration of Israel and the Gaza Strip. As President of the UIA, I reiterate my deep sympathy to the families of the innocent victims and wish you and the Israel Association of United Architects much strength and courage as you navigate the damage caused by this conflict. The UIA remains at your disposal to explore any professional support needed to help you.
 
Kind regards,
Regina Gonthier
President