UN Body Adopts Resolutions On Gaza Rights, Palestinian People’s Self-Determination

The UN’s top human rights body condemned the alleged “use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Gaza” via a resolution, also calling for an arms embargo on Israel. The resolution was adopted by 28 votes in favour, six against, and 13 abstentions, including India.

The 47-member Human Rights Council backed a call “to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, the occupying Power…to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights”.

Another Resolution

In another Gaza vote adopted at the UN Human Rights Council, India this time voted in favour of the draft resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. All members of the UN rights body except five supported the resolution. The United States and Paraguay voted against the resolution. And Cameroon, Argentina, and Albania were three countries that abstained.

Not legally binding

Unlike the UN Security Council, Human Rights Council resolutions are not legally binding but carry significant moral weight and in this instance intended to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel amid its military campaign in Gaza.

Presented by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, delegates heard that the resolution had also been motivated by the need to stop “egregious” human rights violations in the Palestinian Territory. Co-sponsors of the text included Bolivia, Cuba and the State of Palestine, ahead of the vote which saw support from more than two dozen countries including Brazil, China, Luxembourg, Malaysia and South Africa.

Israel Rebuffs UN Resolution

Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar rejected the resolution as further evidence of the Council’s alleged anti-Israeli bias. “According to this resolution, States should not sell arms to Israel in its endeavour to defend its population, but they continue to arm Hamas,” she said. “It cannot even condemn the brutal murder of over 1,200 of my people, the kidnapping of over 240 individuals, including infants, the rape, mutilations and sexual abuse of Israeli women, girls and men,” the Israeli official said later to journalists on the sidelines of the Council.

The latest document condemns the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects by Israel in populated areas in Gaza, underlining the “reverberating effects of such weapons on hospitals, schools, water, electricity and shelter, which are affecting millions of Palestinians”. It also denounces the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to aid military decision-making in conflict. It decries the targeting of civilians, including on 7 October 2023 and demands the immediate release of all remaining hostages, persons arbitrarily detained and victims of enforced disappearance as well as ensuring immediate humanitarian access to the hostages.