Rights group pressures UN to impose sanctions, weapons embargo on Israel
(MENAFN) Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged UN member states to implement concrete actions—including targeted sanctions and an arms embargo—against Israel for its alleged serious violations of Palestinian rights. The call comes ahead of a high-level UN conference on Palestine, scheduled for July 28–29 and co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.
The appeal follows a 2024 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and labeling it as apartheid. Bruno Stagno, HRW’s chief advocacy officer, emphasized the need for governments to adopt enforceable measures, including sanctions, arms restrictions, and the suspension of preferential trade deals. He also called for international support in enforcing International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants.
HRW stated that the threshold for “a serious risk of genocide” has already been crossed, citing ICJ findings and the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza by Israeli forces. Under the Genocide Convention, HRW reminded governments of their legal duty to respond.
The group noted that 12 countries have recently cut diplomatic ties with Israel due to its actions in Gaza, while others—including the UK and some EU nations—have imposed sanctions or reassessed trade policies. Still, HRW argued that global efforts fall short of stopping what it described as Israel’s ongoing extermination, apartheid, and persecution of Palestinians.
Among the recommended steps were halting all arms transfers and military aid to Israel, enforcing travel bans and asset freezes on officials involved in serious violations, and banning trade with settlements deemed illegal under international law. HRW also called for suspending political and economic agreements, boosting funding for the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, and publicly recognizing Israeli abuses as crimes of apartheid and persecution.
The organization criticized the UN Security Council for inaction, blaming the United States for obstructing accountability by continuing arms shipments to Israel and ensuring it avoids international repercussions.
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