Joint call to halt arms transfers to Israel signed by 52 Member States and two international organizations - Letter from 罢ü谤办颈测别 (A/79/572-S/2024/802)

01 November 2024

General Assembly

Security Council

Seventy-ninth session

Agenda item 34

The situation in the Middle East

Seventy-ninth year

Letter dated 1 November 2024 from the Permanent Representative of 罢ü谤办颈测别 to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary?General

I have the honour to enclose herewith a joint letter calling for a halt to arms transfers to Israel signed by 52 Member States and two international organizations (see annex).

It would be highly appreciated if the present letter and its annex could be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 34, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Ahmet Y?ld?z

Permanent Representative

Annex to the letter dated 1 November 2024 from the Permanent Representative of 罢ü谤办颈测别 to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

1 November 2024

We write to express our grave concern about the unprecedented and escalating levels of violence and violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, in the Gaza Strip, as well as in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East region.

The staggering toll of civilian casualties, the majority of them children and women, due to ongoing breaches of international law by Israel, the occupying Power, for more than a year now is unconscionable and intolerable. We must act urgently to halt the extreme human suffering and regional destabilization that risks the outbreak of an all-out war in the region. Immediate steps must be taken by all States to uphold international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. The protection of civilians, an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the preservation of international peace and security are of utmost urgency.

We therefore make this collective call for immediate steps to be taken to halt the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel, the occupying Power, in all cases where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as stipulated in General Assembly resolution ES-10/24 of 18 September 2024.

Such immediate steps are imperative to bring an end to Israel’s illegal occupation and deter further violations against civilians in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as in Lebanon, and prevent further regional escalation.

Decisive actions are urgently needed to stop this dangerous trajectory, to end impunity and to ensure accountability for all violations, in line with obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, the Fourth Geneva Convention and other relevant treaties, as well as all relevant United Nations resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings, including its advisory opinions and binding provisional measures and orders.

We also recall the Secretary-General’s invocation of Article 99 of the Charter warning, inter alia, of the “potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region” caused by this appalling situation and appealing to the Security Council to declare an immediate ceasefire to avert this catastrophe.

We renew our calls on the Security Council to uphold its duty in accordance with the Charter to maintain international peace and security. The Council must act to implement its resolutions, which are being flagrantly violated. This must include concrete measures to protect civilians and ensure accountability, including a clear demand for the halt of arms transfers to Israel, the occupying Power.

This is a legal, humanitarian and moral imperative to put an end to the grave human suffering, implement a comprehensive ceasefire, deter future violations, salvage the prospects for a just, lasting and peaceful solution in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions and halt this threat to international peace and security. We urge that all necessary steps be taken without delay to this end.

We would be grateful if the present letter could be brought to the immediate attention of the members of the Security Council, and also circulated as a document of the General Assembly and the Council.