The United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a proposal urging to halt arms sales to Israel. This proposal was adopted on Friday and calls for holding Israel accountable for potential war crimes and violations against humanity. The Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) presented the proposal in the UN Human Rights Council, with 28 out of the 47 member states voting in favor, including Bangladesh. Six countries, including the United States and Germany, voted against the proposal, while 13 countries, including India and France, abstained from voting.
The proposal comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in catastrophic casualties and devastation. Israel’s relentless airstrikes and bombings have transformed Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe, with over 33,000 Palestinians losing their lives. In response to the dire situation in Gaza, the UN Human Rights Council convened on Friday. During the meeting, there were calls for Israel to be held accountable for potential war crimes and violations against humanity. Additionally, the proposal urges to cease arms sales to Israel.
Jeremy Lawrence, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council, stated that international law has been continuously violated in Gaza since October 7. Both parties involved are flagrantly disregarding international humanitarian law, exacerbating the suffering of innocent Palestinians.
Despite the passage of the proposal, there are no legal obligations for parties to adhere to this decision. For a long time, the UN Human Rights Council has faced allegations of bias from oil-rich nations.
On the other hand, Israel continues to receive foreign arms and missile assistance for its aggression in Gaza. Despite calls for an immediate halt to arms sales issued by the UN Human Rights Council officials in February, Israel has refrained from discontinuing arms imports, with several Western countries, including the United States, maintaining uninterrupted arms supplies.