A Belgian lawmaker who is one of more than 200 MPs who signed a letter calling for an arms embargo on Israel says that if Europe remains silent on the Gaza Strip, it will lose credibility to speak out about Russia's actions in Ukraine. It is said that there is a risk of being exposed.
“In Europe, it is very hypocritical to talk about international law when talking about Ukraine and Russia. [but] if we don't have the same [views] When we talk about the Palestinians, we will not have the honor of talking about it in the future. [it]” Simon Moucuin, a member of the Belgian parliament, told Al Jazeera in an interview on Saturday.
With Israel's relentless shelling of Gaza killing more than 30,000 people, most of them civilians, on Friday more than 200 members of Congress from countries that provide military funding to Israel issued a statement saying: He called on countries to stop selling arms to Tel Aviv, citing a violation of international law.
In a letter signed by parliamentarians from 13 countries, they announced that they would not “collude” and would take “immediate coordinated action” in their respective parliaments to stop governments from supplying arms to Israel.
A Belgian lawmaker said his country must act to stop Israel, citing a “risk of genocide” if countries continue to fund Tel Aviv's war against Gaza.
“As a signatory to the Convention against Genocide, [Belgium has] “We have a legal and moral obligation to act and prevent the risk of genocide, so I think this letter…is a good first step, but we need to go further,” Moukan said. expressed concern about division. He saw the bloc's struggle to come together to deal with Israel's war on Gaza.
Continued military funding to Israel during the Gaza War
The United States is by far the largest funder of the Israeli military, providing approximately $3 billion in aid annually. Currently, US lawmakers are debating an additional $14 billion to support Tel Aviv's operations in Gaza.
Immediately after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 and Tel Aviv's subsequent declaration of war on the Gaza Strip, Washington sent guided missile carriers, F-35 fighter jets, and other military equipment to Tel Aviv. From 2013 to 2022, approximately 68% of Israel's arms imports came from the United States.
Tel Aviv also relies on German arms imports, mainly air defense systems and communications equipment. In total, Germany provides 28% of Israel's military imports, but the value of its imports increased nearly tenfold from 2022 to 2023 after Berlin stepped up sales to Israel in November.
Britain, Canada, France and Australia are also providing military support to Israel.
However, following a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that found it “plausible” that Israel may be committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Israel to stop genocide in Gaza, some countries have suspended arms exports to Tel Aviv.
In the Netherlands, a court ruled in February to block the export of military fighter jet parts after human rights groups sued the government. Similarly, Belgium, Spain and Japan have also suspended military cooperation with Tel Aviv in recent weeks.
Lawmakers from donor countries “express their position”
In an open letter, the lawmakers cited the ICJ's February ruling and said the arms embargo against Israel is legally necessary.
“Our bombs and bullets must not be used to kill, injure, or rob Palestinians of their property,” they said. “But they are true. We cannot guarantee that lethal weapons and their components manufactured or transported in our country are currently supporting Israeli attacks on Palestine that have claimed more than 30,000 lives in Gaza and across the West Bank.” I know what you’re doing.”
The delegates, primarily from France, Australia, Spain, Turkey and Brazil, warned that Israel would not only continue its war on Gaza but also step up plans to invade Rafah, the last enclave home to more than 1.5 million people. He accused it of violating international law. Palestinians displaced by war.
“Today, we are taking a stand,” the letter continued. “We will take immediate and concerted action in our respective Congresses to stop countries from supplying arms to Israel.”
Lawmakers from Germany, Portugal, the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium and the United Kingdom also signed the document.
At least 30,228 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, most of them children and women. Little aid is flowing in, and people are dying from starvation and dehydration. The United Nations has warned that the invasion of Rafah would “put the nail in the coffin” of the Strip's humanitarian crisis.
