The United Nations’ Human Rights Council took a significant step on Friday by adopting a resolution calling for all countries to cease supplying arms to Israel. This move puts key allies of Israel under international scrutiny for potential violations of international humanitarian law.
The resolution, passed in Geneva by a vote of 28 to 6 with 13 abstentions, urges countries to halt the supply of arms and munitions to Israel in order to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses. The United States and Germany, Israel’s top arms suppliers, voted against the measure.
While the resolution does not have immediate practical implications, it carries significant diplomatic weight in the push to curb the flow of weapons being used in Gaza. It also supports measures mandated by the International Court of Justice, which has called on Israel to comply with the Genocide Convention and allow more aid into Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador, Meirav Eilon Shahar, criticized the resolution as a “very dark day in the history of the council,” noting its failure to condemn Hamas for recent attacks on Israel. The Israeli foreign ministry also pointed out the council’s disregard for the supply of weapons to Hamas by Iran and its allies.
The United States also condemned the resolution, with Ambassador Michèle Taylor expressing President Biden’s growing impatience with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict. Taylor called for an immediate cease-fire and urged Netanyahu to negotiate with Hamas without delay.
In addition to calling for an end to arms supplies to Israel, the resolution tasks the UN’s independent commission of inquiry with investigating the direct and indirect supply of arms to Israel and analyzing the legal implications of such actions. This move underscores the international community’s commitment to upholding human rights and preventing further violence in the region.
