The UN Human Rights Council (UN Human Rights Council) passed a resolution demanding a halt to all arms sales to Israel on Thursday (4/4). The resolution marks the first time the UN human rights council has taken a position on the bloodiest conflict ever in the Palestinian territories.
Of the 47 member countries of the UN Security Council, 28 countries agreed to the resolution. The remaining six countries opposed it and 13 abstained.
Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, condemned the resolution as “a stain on the Human Rights Council and the UN as a whole”.
The text of the resolution firmly calls on all countries to stop the sale, shipment and transfer of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment to Israel. This is important to do to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuse of human rights.
They stressed that the International Court of Justice had ruled in January that there was a reasonable risk of genocide in the Gaza strip.
Yesterday’s resolution, submitted by Pakistan on behalf of all member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) except Albania, also called for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate allowing of emergency humanitarian access and assistance.
Also read: UN Security Council Resolution Adopting the Ceasefire Resolution
“We need you all to wake up and stop this genocide, a genocide that is being televised all over the world,” Palestinian Ambassador Ibrahim Mohammad Khraishi told the council before the vote at UN headquarters.
Israel’s main ally, the United States, heeded Israel’s call to vote no, as did Germany, Argentina, Bulgaria, Malawi and Paraguay.
US Ambassador Michele Taylor agreed that too many civilians have been killed in this conflict and every civilian death is a tragedy, and acknowledged that Israel has not done enough to reduce civilian losses.
Friday’s vote came following the UN Security Council in New York last week also finally passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire, thanks to an abstention from the United States.
(AFP/Z-9)
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