Geneva, 23 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Independent UN experts are calling for an arms embargo against Israel, stating that exporting countries risk violating international humanitarian law if the weapons supplied are used in the Gaza war, they said in Geneva on Friday.

All states must ensure compliance with international humanitarian law as stipulated in the Geneva Conventions, which are binding worldwide.

Therefore, no weapons or ammunition may be passed on it can be assumed, based on the previous behaviour of the recipient country, that the weapons will be used in an operation contrary to international law.

The UN Human Rights Office repeatedly accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip, through the widespread attacks that amount to collective punishment of the population.

Israel launched the attacks in response to the unprecedented terrorist attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Around 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted. Israel has stated it plans to destroy the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

More than 29,195 Palestinians have been killed during the Israeli military campaign there so far.

In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) called on Israel to prevent acts in the Gaza Strip that could fall within the scope of the Genocide Convention.

As the judges considered the risk of genocide plausible, all arms deliveries must be stopped under the current circumstances, demanded more than a dozen UN experts.

The UN experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council for specific countries or topics to report on whether and how human rights are being violated. They work voluntarily basis and are not UN employees.

Photo: MIA archive