A coalition of nations has introduced at a gathering within the Colombian capital of Bogota that they may pursue accountability for Israeli abuses in Gaza, together with by stopping the switch of weapons to Israel.
The 2-day assembly concluded on Wednesday with two dozen nations agreeing to 6 measures to “restrain Israel’s assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories”.
They embrace Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and South Africa.
“We consider in protagonism, not supplication,” mentioned Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, the manager secretary of The Hague Group, which organised the summit.
“Right this moment marks an finish to the period of the impunity and the start of collective state motion by governments of conscience.”
Based in January, the Hague Group seeks to carry collectively nations from the “International South” — a loosely outlined area of growing economies — to strain Israel to finish its battle on Gaza and the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Among the many steps introduced by the group are the denial of arms to Israel, a ban on ships transporting such arms and a evaluate of public contracts for potential hyperlinks to corporations that profit from the Israeli occupation.
The six measures additionally included help for “common jurisdiction mandates”, which might enable states or worldwide our bodies to prosecute critical worldwide crimes, no matter the place they befell.
“The delegates right here which have been discussing these measures for 2 days are calling it essentially the most bold, multilateral plan because the starting of Israel’s war in Gaza 21 months in the past,” Al Jazeera correspondent Alessandro Rampietti reported from Bogota.
The 12 nations that agreed to the measures, nonetheless, characterize fewer than half of the 30 nations in attendance on the Bogota summit.
And critics query how efficient smaller economies might be in dissuading Israel from its navy marketing campaign, particularly given the multibillion-dollar help it receives from america.
Israel has given little indication that worldwide outrage has slowed down its assaults on Gaza, even after specialists on the United Nations (UN) and main humanitarian organisations in contrast its techniques to genocide.
Israeli forces proceed to displace Palestinians and limit their access to food, gasoline and water. At the least 58,573 Palestinians have been killed because the battle started in October 2023.
Whereas the vast majority of the nations at this week’s Bogota convention didn’t instantly signal on to Wednesday’s measures, the Hague Group expressed optimism that extra may take part.
In an announcement, the group set a deadline of September 20 for others to take part — a date chosen to coincide with the beginning of the UN Common Meeting.
“Consultations with capitals the world over are actually ongoing,” the assertion mentioned.
Officers attending the summit additionally hailed the six measures as half of a bigger effort to chip away at Israeli impunity.
“Ministers, the reality is that Palestine has already triggered a revolution, and you might be a part of it,” mentioned Francesca Albanese, the United Nations particular rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.
“Palestine has modified international consciousness, drawing a transparent line between those that oppose genocide and people who settle for it or are a part of it.”
Albanese was lately sanctioned by the US for her outspoken criticism of Israel’s actions.
The summit has develop into a logo of the rising calls from non-Western nations for world leaders to implement worldwide regulation in Gaza, the place critics say Israel has persistently flouted human rights regulation.
Creating nations equivalent to South Africa and Colombia, which cohosted the convention, have been on the forefront of such accountability efforts.
South Africa, as an example, filed a case in December 2023 on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel perpetrated genocide in Gaza. And Colombia announced it could lower ties with Israel in Could 2024 over its navy marketing campaign.
“We got here to Bogota to make historical past,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro mentioned in an announcement. “And we did.”
