GENEVA: Citing the “plausible risk of genocide in Gaza,” Pakistan submitted a draft resolution that the UN Human Rights Council will discuss on Friday. The proposal calls for an arms embargo on Israel.
The top rights body of the UN would be taking a stand on the Gaza war for the first time if the draft resolution is approved.
In populated areas of Gaza, the statement denounces “the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects by Israel” and calls on Israel to “uphold its legal responsibility to prevent genocide.”
With the exception of Albania, 55 of the 56 UN members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have supported the draft resolution that Pakistan has presented.
Draft resolution, submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, denounces the use of famine as a weapon in combat.
Bolivia, Cuba, and the Palestinian representation in Geneva are co-sponsors of the document.
The eight-page document calls on Israel to immediately lift its “illegal blockade” on the Gaza Strip and cease its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Citing “a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza,” it urges nations to halt sales or transfers of weapons, ammunition, and other military hardware to Israel.
In addition, the draft demands an immediate truce, “condemns Israeli actions that may amount to ethnic cleansing,” and “condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.”
“Collective punishment”
Washington, Israel’s strongest friend, abstained, allowing the UN Security Council in New York last Thursday to pass a resolution requesting a truce.
The proposal being brought to Geneva requests that Israel cease building new settlements on Palestinian territory and urges states to guarantee UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has enough financing.
“Critics of Israel’s breaches of international law should not be confused with anti-Semitism,” it states once again.
The resolution calls for “the immediate release of all remaining hostages and detainees” and denounces the firing of rockets at Israeli residential areas.
Along with three other resolutions pertaining to Israeli settlements, the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, the council will debate whether to accept the resolution on Friday.
The Human Rights Council has long been accused by Israel of being biased against it.
