Arabic version: خبراء الأمم المتحدة يطالبون بتعليق نقل الأسلحة إلى إسرائيل
A group of United Nations experts has condemned Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and urged UN member states to suspend all arms transfers to Israel. This call comes in the wake of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, which was established just a day prior to the experts’ announcement.
According to Al Jazeera, the 19 experts, including special rapporteurs and independent human rights experts, described the recent Israeli attacks as illegal. These attacks have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals, including four paramedics, as Israel continues its bombardment of southern Lebanon.
The experts referred to a series of Israeli strikes that occurred on April 8, which Lebanese authorities claim killed more than 350 people, including 30 children. They labeled these actions as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and a serious threat to peace and multilateralism. The experts called for an immediate cessation of military operations in Lebanon and urged member states to halt arms transfers to Israel while credible evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law exists.
The ongoing conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in response to the US-Israel killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei two days earlier. Israel has since intensified its military operations in Lebanon, resulting in over 2,000 fatalities and the displacement of more than 1.2 million people. The UN experts characterized this forced displacement as crimes against humanity and condemned the targeted destruction of homes as a form of collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
The situation remains complex, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that Israel would continue to target Hezbollah despite ongoing ceasefire discussions. A senior Israeli official indicated that the security cabinet would convene to discuss a potential ceasefire in Lebanon, while Lebanese officials confirmed that ceasefire efforts were underway.
