Oxfam American President and CEO Abby Maxman released the following statement:
"This weekend’s escalation in the Middle East isn’t just dangerous, it’s a reckless breach of international law with consequences that will be felt far beyond the region.
"The United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran fall outside the narrow bounds of lawful self‑defense, undermining the very rules‑based order these governments claim to defend.
"And the silence of many Western leaders in the face of these initial strikes is deeply alarming. Moments like this demand moral courage, not political calculation.
"But the most devastating consequences are human. Civilians, including children, are already among the casualties in a region exhausted by war, displacement, and humanitarian crisis. Each strike makes life even more precarious for millions who have already endured far too much.
"What makes this escalation even more troubling is that it comes amid reported diplomatic progress. Choosing force at such a moment is not a strategy; it’s the sabotage of diplomacy.
"Unilateral military action only empowers hardliners, entrenches hostility, and narrows the path to any meaningful political solution.
"We urgently need restraint, accountability, and a return to diplomacy before this crisis spirals into a catastrophe that reshapes the region and endangers global stability.
"If we are serious about a safer, more just world, then we must be serious about international law, about protecting civilians, and about defending the fragile spaces where peace is still possible."