The Council of Europe urged all its 46 member nations to halt their deliveries of weapons to Israel due to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Michael O’Flaherty, the council’s commissioner for human rights, said all its member states should do what’s necessary to avoid exacerbating the current situation in the Palestinian enclave, following Germany’s move to halt some arms deliveries to the Jewish state in light of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order to invade Gaza City.
“[Members should do] their utmost to prevent and address violations of international human rights,” O’Flaherty said in a statement.
“This includes applying existing legal standards to ensure that arms transfers are not authorized where there is a risk that they may be used to commit human rights violations.”
O’Flaherty also called on the members — which include the UK, France and Italy — “to intensify efforts to provide relief to those affected by the conflict.”
O’Flaherty noted that his statement was partially influenced by Germany’s decision to curb arms exports to Israel on Friday.
Germany, along with the US and Italy, is among the top foreign suppliers of military equipment for the Israel Defense Forces.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s surprise stance was among the loudest rebukes yet by one of Israel’s strongest international backers over the decision to invade Gaza City.
“The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli Cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved,” Merz said.
“Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice,” he added.
Critics of the invasion plan, including the IDF’s own chief of staff, have warned that the full military occupation of Gaza City would only result in unnecessary casualties and put the remaining 50 hostages at risk.
Netanyahu, however, maintains that military pressure is the only way to rid Gaza of Hamas and rescue the hostages, only 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
The embattled prime minister has reiterated that the conflict in Gaza is a “just war,” dismissing any pushback as a reward for Hamas.
With Post wires
