Council of Europe urges member states to stop delivering arms to Israel for use in Gaza

The Council of Europe urges its member states to halt deliveries of weapons to Israel if they could be used for human rights violations.

Michael O’Flaherty, the Council’s commissioner for human rights, says member states should do “their utmost to prevent and address violations of international human rights” in the conflict.

“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,” he says, in a statement.

It is also “essential to intensify efforts to provide relief to those affected by the conflict, by supporting efforts to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian assistance and by pressing for the immediate release of hostages,” O’Flaherty says.

The call by the Council — a human rights organization representing 46 states — comes shortly after Germany said it would halt delivery to Israel of some weapons that could be used in Gaza after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to take control of Gaza City.

O’Flaherty says the Council had taken note of this and other government initiatives, and also of contributions by some national human rights structures in raising awareness.

“However, more needs to be done, and quickly,” he says.