UN Human Rights Council Calls for Halt to Arms Sales or Shipments to Israel

On Friday, April 6, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling for a halt to the sale or shipment of weapons to Israel. According to the Associated Press, the 47-member council voted in favor of the resolution with 28 votes for, 6 against, and 13 abstentions. The statement also requested independent UN inspectors to report on shipments of weapons, ammunition, and their 'dual-use' applications. The report noted that the United States, Germany, and several other countries opposed the resolution, while some European nations supported it, although the names of these countries were not specified. Meanwhile, Israel announced that it would take steps to increase humanitarian aid shipments to the Gaza Strip, including reopening a key border crossing to northern Gaza. This was stated in a press release from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, April 6. The report did not specify the quantity or types of items to be imported. This announcement came just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden told Netanyahu in a phone call that future American support for Israel in the Gaza conflict would depend on further actions by Israel to protect civilians and aid workers. The Associated Press noted that despite this conversation and the disagreements, the Biden administration continued military aid and diplomatic support for Israel in its six-month war against Hamas. According to the report, Israel has faced significant criticism following the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza. Concerns continue over Israel's ongoing attacks in Rafah and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; Palestinians protested against the Islamic Republic; hundreds of British lawyers called for a halt to arms sales to Israel; Spain's decision to recognize 'the State of Palestine' and its implications in Europe; Biden told Netanyahu: U.S. policy depends on 'Israel's immediate actions.'