Over 50 states have called Monday, November 4, for an immediate arms embargo against Israel, “a legal, humanitarian and moral imperative to put an end to grave human suffering”. The countries signing the call demand that the UN Security Council take immediate steps to halt the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel, the occupying power in Gaza. Several of the signatories currently grant transit for arms shipments and maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Following, excerpts of the letter:
“We write to express our grave concern about the unprecedented and escalating levels of violence and violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, in the Gaza Strip, as well as in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East region.”
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“The staggering toll of civilian casualties, most of them children and women, due to ongoing breaches of international law by Israel, the occupying Power, for more than a year now is unconscionable and intolerable. We must act urgently to halt the extreme human suffering and regional destabilization that risks the outbreak of an all-out war in the region. Immediate steps must be taken by all States to uphold international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. The protection of civilians, an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the preservation of international peace and security are of utmost urgency.”
“We renew our calls on the Security Council to uphold its duty in accordance with the Charter to maintain international peace and security. The Council must act to implement its resolutions, which are being flagrantly violated. This must include concrete measures to protect civilians and ensure accountability, including a clear demand for the halt of arms transfers to Israel, the occupying Power. This is a legal, humanitarian and moral imperative to put an end to the grave human suffering, implement a comprehensive ceasefire, deter future violations, salvage the prospect for a just, lasting and peaceful solution in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions and halt this threat to international peace and security. We urge all necessary steps to be taken without delay to this end.”
Among the signatories, representatives from China, Cuba, Mexico, Morocco, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Türkiye, Palestine, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam, Norway, South Africa, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and South Africa.
The UN General Assembly on September 18, approved a Palestinian proposal that requires Israel to implement the decisions of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which calls, among other things, for the end of the Israeli presence “in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within six months, the withdrawal of the IDF from there, the cessation of “settlements” and “the return of the Palestinians to their land.”
The proposal also included a call to countries not to legally recognize Israel’s presence “in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” in addition to enforcing sanctions on senior Israeli officials, end the transfer of weapons to Israel if it is suspected that they will be used in those territories, and avoiding the establishment of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31654
