Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, calls upon the states that export weapons to the occupation’s state to stop that immediately. These countries must stop exporting weapons, ammunition, and spare parts (for military vehicles) to the occupation’s state as these equipment are used in the genocide war committed against Palestinians. The Center stressed that the occupation is using all kinds of internationally prohibited lethal in its genocide war and war crimes against Palestinians. These crimes are taking place in front of the world that keeps watching silently without moving a finger to stop the crimes against Palestinians. Not only that, but also some countries are providing the occupation with weapons to be used in the genocide war committed against Palestinians. Up to the moment, the number of Palestinian martyrs reached 31988 in addition to 74188 wounded persons while the number of missed persons reached 8500. The war also resulted in the demolition of thousands of residential units and many other civic objects, particularly hospitals, medical centers, schools, and universities. In addition to that, Israel is forcibly displacing Palestinians where there are currently about 1.6 million displaced persons in the Gaza Strip. Israel is applying excessive force and all the forms of weapons and lethal (provided by some countries) in its war against Palestinians and it is committing increasing crimes and violations of the international law and the international human rights law.
SHAMS Center affirms that providing the occupation with weapons and lethal by these countries, stands as a violation of the international law and the international human rights law. In particular, these countries are violating the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty as Article 6 states: “A State Party shall not authorize any transfer of conventional arms covered under Article 2 (1) or of items covered under Article 3 or Article 4, if it has knowledge at the time of authorization that the arms or items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, attacks directed against civilian objects or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes as defined by international agreements to which it is a Party”. Additionally, it violates Article 15 of Geneva Fourth Convention (12/4/1949), which protects civilians under armed conflicts. The given Article protects: “civilian persons who take no part in hostilities, and who, while they reside in the zones, perform no work of a military character”. Moreover, it violates Geneva Convention of 1980 regarding banning or restricting the usage of specific traditional arms.
SHAMS Center highly appreciates the brave positions of some states that decided to freeze exporting weapons to the occupation’s state in response to the popular demands in these countries and the demands to end the Israeli genocide war. The stance of these countries was a respect to the rulings of the national courts in these countries, which ruled to stop exporting weapons to the occupation state as using these weapons violates the national laws in these countries and contradicts with the international human rights law. Additionally, these countries are committed to the joint statement of the United Nations Rapporteurs on 23/2/2024, which was based on the noble principles of the United Nations to protect international peace and security. More than 30 rapporteurs issued a statement, which affirmed that providing Israel (Occupying Power) with weapons and lethal, should stop immediately. The statement considered that exporting weapons to Israel contradicts with the international law as these countries are aware that the exported weapons will be used in the attacks and crimes committed against Palestinian civilians and committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in the OPT.
SHAMS Center calls upon the United Nations Genera Assembly, Un Secretary- General, Human Rights High Commissioner, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, International Committee of the Red Cross, and all international governmental/ non-governmental organizations, to exert pressure on the countries that export weapons to the occupation state to stop providing the occupation state with military supplies. The military supplies are sent daily from the harbors and airports of these states to be delivered to the occupying power. Additionally, these parties are demanded to exert pressure on the occupation state to adhere to international law and international human rights law, respect the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which urges for halting the genocide war, and allow the entry of human and relief aids to the Gaza Strip.