The UN Human Rights Council convened on Friday to discuss the possibility of urging a cessation of weapon transactions with Israel, amid its conflict in Gaza, resulting in over 33,000 fatalities, predominantly among non-combatants.
Should the text be approved, it would signify a historic moment, as it would be the inaugural instance of the United Nations foremost human rights body expressing a stance on the deadliest conflict to afflict the embattled Palestinian enclave.
The draft text calls on countries to “cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel”.
This, it said, is needed among other things “to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights”.
It stresses that the International Court of Justice ruled in January “that there is a plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza
The draft resolution presented on Friday, spearheaded by Pakistan representing all Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member nations except Albania, advocates for an urgent ceasefire and immediate emergency humanitarian aid and access.
This development follows last week’s resolution passed by the UN Security Council in New York, which called for a ceasefire, facilitated by the abstention of Washington, Israel’s primary ally and major arms provider.
However, the ceasefire appeal has not translated into any changes in the ground reality.
The conflict in Gaza ignited following an assault by Hamas on October 7, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,170 lives in Israel, predominantly civilians, based on a tally by AFP using Israeli official data.
Palestinian insurgents also captured over 250 hostages on October 7, with 130 still detained in Gaza, including 34 individuals whom the military claims have been deceased.
The counteroffensive by Israel has resulted in the deaths of at least 33,037 individuals, with women and children constituting the majority, as per the health ministry in Gaza, under Hamas administration.
Read also: Japan Jolted by Earthquake, No Tsunami Hazard Declared
The rights council draft resolution does not name Hamas but it does condemn the firing of rockets at Israeli civilian areas and demands “the immediate release of all remaining hostages”.
The strongly worded text repeatedly names Israel, stressing it is “the occupying Power”.
It demands that Israel end its occupation of all Palestinian territories and “immediately lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip and all other forms of collective punishment”.
The text, which was revised late on Thursday removing several references to genocide, continues to express “grave concern at statements by Israeli officials amounting to incitement to genocide”.
And it urges countries to “prevent the continued forcible transfer of Palestinians within and from Gaza”.
It warns in particular “against any large-scale military operations in the city of Rafah” in the south of the densely populated Gaza Strip, where well over one million civilians are sheltering, warning of “devastating humanitarian consequences”.
The draft resolution also condemns “the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Gaza”, where the UN has warned that famine is looming.
And it slammed “the unlawful denial of humanitarian access, wilful impediment to relief supplies and deprivation of objects indispensable to the survival of civilians, including food, water, electricity, fuel and telecommunications, by Israel”.
The text also condemns Israel’s “use of explosive weapons with wide area effects by Israel in populated areas in Gaza”.
The resolution put forth on Friday laments the ongoing refusal of Israel to collaborate in several investigations mandated by the UN human rights council.
The resolution stresses the necessity of ensuring credible, timely, and comprehensive accountability for all infringements of international law in Gaza.
It urges the Commission of Inquiry on the rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the highest-level UN investigation initiated before October 7, to thoroughly examine all direct and indirect transfers or sales of arms, munitions, parts, components, and dual-use items to Israel, the occupying Power.
It tasks the team with identifying the weapons utilized since October 7 and conducting an in-depth analysis of the legal implications of these transfers.
It states that the investigators are required to present their findings to the council during its 59th session, set to take place in mid-2025.