Allies Considering Halting Arms Sales to Israel

The recent killing of 7 aid workers by the Israeli military in Gaza has sparked unprecedented criticism from Western leaders who are pushing for a ceasefire and an end to arms sales to Israel as the damage in Gaza continues to escalate.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally and largest military supporter, has threatened to condition its support for the Gaza offensive. During a phone call on April 4th between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden made it clear that continued US support for the conflict depends on Israel’s actions in protecting civilians and aid workers.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on April 4th that Spain has halted arms sales to Israel and called on other countries to take similar actions. Canada also declared in February 2024 that it will stop transferring weapons to Israel in the near future. Additionally, a Dutch court requested the country’s government to cease the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel in the same month.

In the UK, over 600 lawyers, including 3 former Supreme Court judges, have called on the British government to halt the transportation of weapons to Israel. This comes as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is examining allegations of genocide committed by Israel.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution on April 5th calling for an arms embargo against Israel. The resolution demands that Israel immediately lifts the illegal blockade of Gaza, condemns its use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, and calls on countries to stop selling or transferring weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment to Israel.

Furthermore, there is a growing chorus of calls from non-governmental organizations and activists to end arms support for Israel. In France, members of the far-left party have urged the government to stop arms sales to Israel and demand transparency in these activities. In Denmark, a group of non-governmental organizations issued a joint statement in early March calling on the Northern European nation to cease arms exports to Israel. Australia has also witnessed protests against the provision of weapons to Israel.

According to the Palestinian Health Agency, since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, over 33,000 people have been killed and nearly 76,000 others injured in Gaza, predominantly women and children. Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that a majority of Gaza’s infrastructure has been severely destroyed and approximately 1.7 million Palestinians, equivalent to 75% of Gaza’s population, are on the brink of famine.

Business Today