UN Urges Countries To Stop Sending Weapons To Israel

Israeli Army (IDF)/ILLUSTRATION PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) has called for an immediate cessation of arms exports to Israel, which will be used in the Gaza Strip.

"Any shipment of weapons or ammunition to Israel to be used in Gaza is likely to violate international humanitarian law and must be stopped immediately," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a statement.

OHCHR urges all countries to ensure respect for international humanitarian law by conflicting parties.

"They must refrain from sending weapons or ammunition - or parts - if expected, given past facts or behavioral patterns when weapons were used to violate international law," the UN agency wrote.

OHCHR noted that exports were prohibited even if exporting countries did not intend to use these weapons to violate the law.

OHCHR appreciates the suspension of arms shipments to Israel by Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Japanese company Itochu Corporation.

However, they highlighted the increase in arms shipments from the United States and Germany since the start of Israel's war in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

France, Britain, Canada, and Australia are also known to still supply weapons to Israel.

Israel has been attacking the Gaza Strip since cross-border attacks by Palestinian Hamas fighters on October 7 last year.

The Israeli war killed more than 29,410 people and caused mass destruction and a basic need crisis in Gaza.

On the other hand, about 1,200 Israelis are believed to have died in the Hamas attack while more than 200 people were brought back to Gaza as hostages.