NATURALISTS FOR

PALESTINE

We, the undersigned, are a group of naturalists, conservation & nature NGOs, TV presenters, nature writers, influencers, wildlife photographers, filmmakers, nature nerds & lovers, all convened through a deep conviction that, if we claim to care about the planet, then we must care about the people too.This has been brought into horrifyingly sharp focus by the
ongoing genocide and ecocide of Gaza.

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OUR STATEMENT:

We, the undersigned, are a group of naturalists, conservation & nature NGOs, TV presenters, nature writers, influencers, wildlife photographers, filmmakers, nature nerds & lovers, all convened through a deep conviction that, if we claim to care about the planet, then we must care about the people too.This has been brought into horrifyingly sharp focus by the ongoing genocide and ecocide of Gaza.

We believe it is paramount that the sector urgently recognises, and remains steadfast in seeking justice for, the extreme human suffering taking place on a mass scale. Legal experts and genocide scholars, as well as some of our most respected NGOs, have all concluded that genocide, war crimes, collective punishment and ethnic cleansing are being committed in Gaza, West Bank, and other Occupied Territories. And these are all violations of international law (see sources and evidence).We recognise that a system that degrades, diminishes, impoverishes, threatens, and kills human life, will be doing exactly the same thing to non-human life.And so we also believe there is an urgent need for the nature sector to express outrage at the ongoing ecocide: from damage to ecosystems at a local scale (i.e. deliberate contamination of water courses, herbicidal warfare, destruction of seedbanks, flattening and bulldozing of landscapes all as described in this Forensic Architecture report); to the global climate crisis with carbon emissions from just the first 120 days of the onslaught on Gaza, estimated to be greater than the annual emissions of up to 36 individual countries and territories.The forces that harm people, harm nature; the forces that harm nature, harm people. These things are inextricably linked.And so we, Naturalists for Palestine, commit to speaking out against the atrocities happening in Palestine and beyond.We also call upon the sector to recognise the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and both the humanitarian and environmental harm resulting from it.Together, as organisations and individuals, we can advance a cultural shift in the nature sector; one that recognises that social and environmental justice are intertwined, and one that speaks out against war crimes and genocide - be it in Palestine or Sudan or Congo or Ukraine or anywhere.Naturalists for Palestine are Naturalists against genocide, we are Naturalists for peace the world over.

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Note: Some signatories may be added anonymously, but their roles will have been verified.

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Sources & Evidence:

The hard truth is that this is too little, too late, for too many. But for the approximately one million people who are still alive in Gaza, having survived over 700 days of one of the most intense bombardments in human history, and being displaced to an area with inadequate food, water, shelter or sanitation, the nature sector must speak out.In September 2025, a UN commission concluded that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.Legal experts (including UK Judges and Lawyers) and genocide scholars, as well as some of our most respected NGOs, have all concluded that genocide, war crimes, collective punishment and ethnic cleansing are being committed in Gaza, West Bank, and other Occupied Territories - all are violations of international law.This includes reports by Médecins Sans Frontieres, Amnesty International, and even the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem who have published a report called "Our Genocide".This has prompted statements from leading eNGOs Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace to issue statements relating to the atrocities being committed in Palestinian territories.There is also evidence which demonstrates an ongoing ecocide. From damage to ecosystems at a local scale (i.e. deliberate contamination of water courses, herbicidal warfare, destruction of seedbanks, flattening and bulldozing of landscapes all as described in this Forensic Architecture report); to the annihilation of farmland and agriculture; to the global climate crisis with carbon emissions from just the first 120 days of the onslaught on Gaza, estimated to be greater than the annual emissions of up to 36 individual countries and territories.Pressure is growing even from within Israel, with over 550 Israeli ex-security officials, including former heads of Mossad and Shin Beit, signing an open letter calling for “an end to the Gaza war”stating objectives have been achieved; and that “it’s time to bring the hostages home”.

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ADD YOUR NAME:

We ask that people speak up, show solidarity, and use their name when signing this form. However, we also recognise the risks of doing so are greater for some more than others. If it feels right that you sign the statement anonymously (write 'anonymous' under name), please include a profession with your submission.

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