Global push: 12 nations unite to advocate arms embargo on 'Israel'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
1 Mar 2024 16:46
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The MPs' letter seeks to channel public outrage over the 30,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza directly to parliamentary discussions.

Palestinian child inspects the massive destruction caused by Israeli air raids on residential buildings in Wadi Gaza. (AFP)

Over 200 Members of Parliament from 12 nations have pledged to lobby their governments for a prohibition on arms sales to "Israel", asserting that they refuse to be complicit in what they deem as “Israel’s grave violation of international law” during its current aggression on Gaza, where the killing of over 30,000 Palestinians has fueled public outrage.

This letter, coordinated by Progressive International, is viewed as a practical step to amplify public discontent and bring it directly into parliamentary discussions, given that previous calls for an immediate unconditional ceasefire have been ignored or rejected by Western governments, most notably the US.

In continuation of its diplomatic cover for its biggest ally "Israel", the United States blocked on Thursday a UN Security Council statement that would have condemned the horrific massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians waiting in line for aid in the al-Rashid Street west of Gaza City.

The organizers contend that governments providing arms are susceptible to legal scrutiny due to the extensive destruction in Gaza, which, according to them, surpasses any reasonable definition of self-defense or proportionality.

Letter endorsed by MPs around the world

The individuals endorsing the letter are all Members of Parliament in countries where the governments permit arms sales to "Israel". Among them, nine hold current or former leadership positions in political parties, including Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of the UK Labour Party; Larissa Waters, the leader of the Green Party in the Australian Senate; Manuel Bompard, the coordinator of France Unbowed; Peter Mertens, the national secretary of the Workers' Party of Belgium; Niki Ashton, the Canadian MP, and Progressive International council member; Nilto Tatto, the Brazilian federal deputy; Bernd Riexinger, the former leader of Die Linke; Ione Belarra, the leader of the Spanish party Podemos; Jimmy Dijk, the leader of the Dutch Socialist Party; Thomas Pringle, the Irish Teachta Dála (member of parliament); and Sezai Temelli, the former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party in Turkey. The only signatory from the US is Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.

The initiative undertaken by the parliamentarians has garnered support from key figures such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the founder of France Unbowed, Pablo Bustinduy, a Spanish government minister, and prominent Indian politician Jignesh Mevani.

In the United Kingdom, 39 parliamentarians, including members from the Labour Party, Scottish National Party, independent representatives, and the Social Democrat and Labour Party (SDLP), have endorsed the letter.

From moral imperative to legal demand: Global call for arms embargo on "Israel"

The politicians assert in their communication that following the International Court of Justice's directive for "Israel" to ensure its forces do not engage in genocidal acts in Gaza, an arms embargo has evolved from being merely a moral imperative to a legal obligation. This sentiment aligns with recent statements from UN experts who have contended that any transfer of weapons or ammunition to "Israel" for use in Gaza is likely to breach international humanitarian law and must cease immediately.

The letter states, “We know that lethal weapons and their parts, made or shipped through our countries, currently aid the Israeli assault on Palestine that has claimed over 30,000 lives across Gaza and the West Bank."

“We cannot wait. Following the interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the genocide convention case against the state of Israel, an arms embargo has moved beyond a moral necessity to become a legal requirement,” it added.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently reviewing a private letter from the Israeli occupation's government, sent on Monday, outlining its alleged efforts to comply with ICJ directives regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid and ceasing incitements to genocide. South Africa, the government initiating the case at the ICJ has the right to challenge the validity of "Israel's assurances".