Seven UN rapporteurs on Wednesday called upon the international community to pay attention to the humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip and appealed to the besieging parties to immediately end their mass punitive measure against the population, especially with regard to electricity.

“The two million residents of Gaza are suffering through a humanitarian crisis that is entirely human-made,” the rapporteurs said in a statement. “It represents a complete failure of all parties to uphold their fundamental human rights obligations, including the inalienable right to life.”

“Reports indicate that electricity is now available for six consecutive hours at the most, often less, followed by 12 hour periods of blackout. The situation is untenable,” they warned.

The experts said Israel’s recent implementation of a decision by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to further reduce electricity supplies by up to 40 percent was leading to an unprecedented deterioration in the provision of critical services.

Israel, as the occupying power controlling the entry and exit of goods and people, bore the primary responsibility for the deterioration of the situation, they said, and should honor its commitments under international humanitarian law and human rights law.

They called on the international community not to turn a blind eye to Gaza and demanded a full and immediate end to the 10-year blockade and closure, which, they said, “amounts to collective punishment contrary to international law.”

“This current crisis only compounds the residents’ fast-growing sense of despair and hopelessness,” they said warning that after 10 years of closure and blockade, Gaza is living with one of the world’s highest unemployment rates, economic stagnation, and a backwards march towards ‘de-development’.

For its part, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, based in Geneva, welcomed the statement that was issued by the UN rapporteurs and stressed the need for all parties to spare civilians the consequences of political differences.

The monitor warned the concerned parties, especially Israel, of turning their back to the rapporteurs’ position and called for unified international action putting an end to the suffering of the population in Gaza.

The statement was released by the following UN experts:

Michael Lynk, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

Dainius Puras, special rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (right to health).

Leilani Farha, special rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination.

Hilal Elver, special rapporteur on the right to food.

Philip Alston, special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

Leo Heller, special rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Saad al-Fararji, special rapporteur on the right to development.